Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c5.88

c5.88

There is also no evidence to disprove the fact taken for granted without the need of any argument or demonstration by all Jain writers that Chandragupta became a convert to their religion. The atmosphere of Jainism had already penetrated into Pāṭaliputra, as we have already seen, in the time of the Nandas who had Jain leanings and Jain ministers [*Hindu Civilisation*, p. 277]. In the *Mudrārākshasa*, also, we find an acknowledgment of this fact in the prominent position it gives to the Jains at the court of Pāṭaliputra and the employment by Chāṇakya himself, an uncompromising champion of Brahminism, of a Jain as one of his chief emissaries. Jain influence was already predominant at the royal court [Rice, *Mysore and Coorg from Inscriptions*, pp. 3-9; *Ep. Carn.*, II. pp. 35-43 (Inscriptions at Sravana Belgola)].