Introduction
Chanakya, also known as Kautilya or Vishnugupta, was a renowned figure in ancient Indian history, estimated to have lived between 376 BCE and 283 BCE. He served as the chief minister to Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Maurya Empire. Renowned for his astuteness and strategic acumen, Chanakya’s influence transcended his time, earning him the epithet ‘Kautilya’ due to his clever and pragmatic approach to governance.
Foundation of Gupta empire
Acharya (teacher) approached King Dhana Nanda of the Nanda dynasty in Pataliputra with a request. The Acharya spoke of the concept of an undivided India and suggested expelling the Greek ruler Seleucus from the Porus nation. However, Dhana Nanda refused because he had arranged the assassination of the king of the Porus nation with Seleucus.
When Dhana Nanda himself revealed this fact to the Acharya, enraged, the Acharya pledged that he would not tie his topknot until he destroyed the Nandas. Around the same time, Prince Chandragupta was banished from the kingdom. Chandragupta met Chanakya and, with the army of the Mlechha (foreign) king Parvatak, marched on Pataliputra and defeated the Nandas in battle.
There are various tales regarding the downfall of the Nanda dynasty. Some say that Chanakya sent a spy named Nirumali to Mahananda, upon whose touch both Mahananda and his sons perished. Others tell the story of sending a poison maiden. The Mudrarakshasa drama suggests that even after the destruction of the Nandas, Chandragupta faced significant challenges in obtaining the throne of Magadha due to the skill and cunning of Mahananda’s minister, Rakshasa. Ultimately, Chanakya pleased Rakshasa with his diplomatic skills and made Chandragupta his minister. Similar stories are found in Buddhist literature, with only the substitution of ‘Dhanananda’ for ‘Mahananda.’
MORE ON CHANAKYA
According to some scholars, Kautilya was born in the ‘Chanak’ region of Punjab, which is now Chandigarh, while others believe that his birth occurred in South India. Some scholars assert that he was a Dravida Brahmin residing in Kanchipuram. He came to North India in search of livelihood. There are references to the Charani River in this context, serving as evidence. Some references suggest that Chanakya, a resident of Kerala, came to Varanasi, where he lost his daughter.
He never returned to Kerala and settled in Magadha. Scholars who hold such views consider him a descendant of the Nishad Kutullur dynasty of Kerala. Many scholars consider him a native of Magadha. Some Buddhist texts describe him as a resident of Takshashila. Due to the significant differences of opinion regarding Kautilya’s birthplace, it is difficult to definitively state where he was born, but based on several references, Takshashila is likely to be considered his birthplace.
Due to the invasion of India by Alexander and the defeat of small states, Chanakya resolved to enter practical politics. His ultimate desire was to see India as a glorious and vast kingdom (undivided India). Certainly, Chandragupta Maurya was the focus of his desire. Acharya Chanakya is considered the founder and protector of the Mauryan Empire as a proficient and visionary politician.
He gained fame as an unparalleled and wonderful figure in the history of Indian culture and literature due to his incomparable and wonderful work in his field. Chanakya’s expertise, skill, and foresight are widely evident in India’s scriptures, poetry, and other texts. The story of the destruction of the Nanda dynasty and the establishment and expansion of the Mauryan dynasty is found in the Vishnu Purana.
Despite being a prominent scholar and the chief minister of the Mauryan Empire, Chanakya led a simple life. He was the true symbol of “simple living, high thinking.” He always lived by the standards and diligently lived a life of hard work. It is said that later he retired from the ministerial position and led a life of retirement. Indeed, he had no greed for wealth, fame, or position. In essence, he was an ascetic, ascetic, hardworking, and disciplined person, whose life is still admirable.
Chanakya is renowned as a prominent scholar and a serious thinker, but he is also famous as a practical and clever politician. His historical contribution lies in the destruction of the Nanda dynasty and the establishment and expansion of the Mauryan Empire. According to the statements of Salator, Chanakya holds the foremost position in ancient Indian political thought. Chanakya tried to separate politics from morality and attempted to study it as an independent science. As it is said, Chanakya was a great teacher.
Works of Chanakya
There is also disagreement among scholars regarding the works of Kautilya. There is no definite information available about how many works Kautilya authored. The most important work attributed to Kautilya is widely considered to be the “Arthashastra,” which extensively discusses politics, economics, and the art of warfare. Other works are not specifically mentioned.
Kautilya’s disciple Kamandaka wrote in his “Neetisara” that Vishnugupta Chanakya, with his intellect, transformed the ocean of economics into the nectar of ethics. Chanakya’s “Arthashastra” is a unique text in Sanskrit on political science. Its principles are still widely circulated. Over time, people compiled and condensed his teachings into various works such as “Vridh Chanakya,” “Laghu Chanakya,” and others. Chanakya was a polymath in all subjects. There is also a book attributed to him called “Vishnugupt Siddhant,” which is a book on astrology. It is said that he wrote a book called “Vaidyajivan” on Ayurveda as well. Some consider Vatsyayana and Chanakya to be the same person. However, this is a misconception, as evidenced by Hemchandra’s verse:
Vatsyayana Mallanagah, Kautilyashchanakatmajah, Dramilah Pakshilaswami Vishnu Gupto’angulashcha sah.
Thus, Kautilya’s name is associated with his works on economics and politics. Some scholars believe that if mention is made of Kautilya’s other works, it could be a collection of his maxims and sayings.