Bindusara

Bindusara was the second Mauryan emperor after Chandragupta Maurya. He ascended the throne in 297 BC.\nGreeks had named him Amitrochates - the Greek word for the Sanskrit\n'Amitraghta' (Slayer of Enemies) Bindusara inherited a large empire that consisted of North, Central\nand East India as also the parts of Afghanistan and Baluchistan. Bindusara extended the this empire to the southern part of India, as far as what is now known as Karnataka. He brought sixteen states under the Mauryan Empire and thus conquered almost all of the Indian peninsula (he is said to have\nconquered the 'land between the two seas' - the peninsular region between the\nBay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea). Bindusara didn't conquer the friendly Dravidian kingdoms of the Cholas, Pandyas, and Cheras. Apart from these southern states, Kalinga (the modern Orissa) was the only kingdom in India that didn't form the part of Bindusara's empire. It was later conquered by his son Ashoka, who served as the viceroy of Ujjaini (Ujjain) during his father's reign. Bindusara's life hasn't been documented as well his father Chandragupta or his son Ashoka. Chanakya continued to serve as the prime minister during his reign. During his rule, the citizens of Taxila revolted twice. The reason for the first revolt was the maladministration of Suseema, his eldest son. The reason for the second revolt is unknown, but it could not be suppressed by Bindusara due to his untimely death. The revolt was later crushed by Ashoka. Ambassadors from Syria and Egypt visited his courts. He maintained good\nrelations with the Hellenic World. Unlike his father Chandragupta (who was a\nJain), he believed in the Ajivika (an atheist and anti-Brahamanical philosophy). Bindusara died in 272 BC (some records say 268 BC) and was succeeded by his son Ashoka the Great. Category:Mauryan dynasty