Bindusara

Bindusara
Magadha Samrat
Amitraghata
Coin of Bindusara
A silver coin of 1 karshapana of the Maurya empire, period of Bindusara Maurya about 297–273 BC, workshop of Pataliputra. Obv: Symbols with a Sun Rev: Symbol Dimensions: 14 x 11 mm Weight: 3.4 g.
Emperor of Magadha
Reignc. 297 – c. 273 BCE
Coronationc. 297 BCE
PredecessorChandragupta Maurya
SuccessorAshoka
Crown Prince of Magadha
PredecessorUnknown
SuccessorSusima
Bornc. 320 BCE
Pataliputra, Maurya Empire (Present day Bihar, India)
Diedc. 273 BCE (aged c. 46  – 47)
Pataliputra, Maurya Empire (Present day Bihar, India)
SpouseSeveral wives (16 according to Mahavamsa), including the mother of Ashoka (Subhadrangi according to Ashokavadana or Dhamma according to the Sri Lankan tradition)
IssueSusima, Ashoka, Vitashoka
DynastyMaurya
FatherChandragupta Maurya
MotherDurdhara (according to Jain tradition)
ReligionBrahmanism[1][2]

Bindusara (320 BCE – 273 BCE) (r.c. 297 – c. 273 BCE) was the second Mauryan emperor of Magadha in Ancient India. The ancient Greco-Roman writers called him Amitrochates, a name likely derived from his Sanskrit title Amitraghāta ("slayer of enemies").

Bindusara was the son of the dynasty's founder Chandragupta and the father of its most famous ruler Ashoka. His life is not documented as well as the lives of these two emperors. Much of the information about him comes from legendary accounts written several hundred years after his death. Bindusara consolidated the empire created by his father.

The 16th century Tibetan Buddhist author Taranatha credits his administration with extensive territorial conquests in southern India, but some historians doubt the historical authenticity of this claim.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference SMH_2001 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Beni Madhab Barua (1968). Asoka and His Inscriptions. Vol. 1. The New Age. p. 171.