The Mauryan Polity c6.s3.t1: The Nanda Empire or the First Empire
The Mauryan Polity c6.s3.t1
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The Nanda Empire or the First Empire
c6.s3.t1.1
There is a general view that historically speaking the Mauryan Empire is the First Empire. But historical facts prove that the Empire was a realised fact under the Nandas. In about 400 B.C. Mahāpadma Nanda ascended the throne of Magadha and the Purāṇas entitle him with lofty titles of *ekarāṭ*, the sole emperor of the land and *ekachatra*, the sole possessor of the umbrella of the empire,¹ titles sighed for in vain by many a monarch of Ancient India. Besides this literary tradition, there is the primary authority of the inscriptions of varying dates which throw light on the extent of the Empire of Magadha under the Nanda monarchs.² There is no denying the fact that a considerable portion of the Dekhan was brought to subjection by the Nandas; and possessing extensive territories both in the north and the south of the Vindhyas, they legitimately prided themselves in such high-sounding titles. It would appear then that the First Empire was of the Nandas and that of the Mauryas was only the Second. It is unfortunate that we have not sufficient details to reconstruct the history of India during the epoch of the Nandas.
c6.s3.t1.2
¹ Pargiter, Kali Age, p. 25.
c6.s3.t1.3
² See Rice, Mysore and Coorg from Inscriptions, p. 3; also reference to Nanda’s conquest of Kalinga in the Khāravela Inscription.
Linked texts (1)
- Purāṇa — Sanskrit