Nanda dynasty (344-321 B.C.)
The Nanda dynasty ruled in the Northern part of India in the 4th century B.C. Mahapdma Nanda was the founder of the dynasty. Both Indian and Greco- Roman tradition was said that the founder of the dynasty was a low birth. According to Greek historian Diodorus said that, Porus told to Alexander, Nanda was the son of a barber. According to Jaina tradition Parishishtha Parvana said that the first Nanda king Mahapama Nanda was the son of a barber. According to Purana, Mahapadma Nanda was the son of Mahanandin the son from a Shudra woman. According to Greek sources, Ugrasena was a good looking barber who fall love with one of the queen of Mahanandin. So Mahanandin was a son from Barber and queen. Some Scholar opine that Mahapadma Nanda and Ugrasena are one and same person.
The capital of the Nanda Empire was Pataliputra. State religion was Jainism, Buddhism and Brahmanism. However there was no Evidence.
Mahapadma Nanda
He was the first Emperor of the Nanda Dyansty. Mahapadma Nanda or Ugrasena was a great ruler of the Nanda dynasty. Mahapadma Nanda was destroyed the Kuru, Panchala, Ikshvakus, Kasis, Kalinga, Asmaka, Surasena, Mathis, Haihayas Kingdoms. According to Hathigumpha inscription, he conquered Kalinga. He established the first great Empire in Northern India. His Empire extended from Sutlej River in the West to Brahmaputra in the East and from Himalaya in the North to river Godavari in the South. He assumed the title Ekrat.
Military strength
He had a large Miltary. According to Curtius he had 2 lakh infantry, 20 thousands cavalry, 3 thousand elephants and 2 thousands chariots. According to Plutarch, Nanda have 2 lakh infantry, 80 thousands cavalry, 6 thousands elephants and 8 thousands chariots. Alexander army came to the river Beas to attack but the great military strength of the Mahapadma Nanda was forced to aback the Alexander army.
Dhana Nanda
He was the son of Mahapadma Nanda. Among the 8 sons of Mahapadma Nanda, Dhana Nanda was the king of Magadha. According to Buddhist text Mahabodhivamsa, Dhana Nanda was the last ruler of Nanda dynasty. He was the youngest of 8 brothers.
According to Jaina tradition after the defeated of Dhana Nanda by Chandragupta Maurya, he was allowed to leave the capital.
According to Buddhist tradition, Dhana Nanda was insulted to Brahmin Chanakya for ugly appreance in a ceremony at Pataliputra and order to thrown out of the assembly. Chanaky then swear to defeated and dethrone to Dhana Nanda. With the help of Nanda’s son Pabbata, he was fled from Nanda palace. To achieve his aim he acquired the wealth for raised the army to using a secret technique; he raised his coin 1 to 8.
Wealth
Dhana Nanda has a great empire. He extended his Empire. So he has a vast wealth. According to Mahavamsa, king treasure-wealth was 80 Crore or 800 million. He buried this wealth at the bed of river Ganga. He got the other wealth from taxes. The Xuan Zang mentions that ‘five treasure’s of the nanda’s seven precious substances’.
Minister
According to Jaina tradition Kalpaka was the minister of Mahapadma Nanda. He encouraged to the king to expansionist policy. Shakatala was the minister of Dhana Nanda. His position was offered to his son Sthulabhadra but he was refused. His second son Shriyaka was the minister.
According to Buddhist tradition Milindapanha, there was a war between the Bhadrasal and Chandragupta and overthrow of Nanda dynasty.
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