Mahapadma Nanda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mahapadma Nanda |
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
A silver coin from the time of King Mahapadma Nanda or his sons (4th century BCE)
|
|
| Emperor of Magadha | |
| Reign | c. 345 BC – 329 BC |
| Predecessor | Mahanandin |
| Successor | Panduka |
| Died | 329 BCE |
| Issue | 8 sons (including Dhana) |
| Dynasty | Nanda |
| Father | Mahanandin |
Mahapadma Nanda was the first powerful emperor of the Nanda Empire in ancient India. He ruled around 345–329 BCE. Ancient Indian texts called the Puranas say he was the son of the last king of the Shaishunaga dynasty, Mahanandin, and a woman from a lower social class. These texts also say that Mahapadma Nanda conquered many lands. He made his empire much bigger than just the Magadha region.
However, Buddhist texts tell a different story. They do not mention Mahapadma Nanda. Instead, they say the first Nanda ruler was a man named Ugrasena. He was a robber who became king. Ugrasena was followed by his eight brothers, and the last one was Dhana Nanda.
Contents
Mahapadma Nanda's Rule
The Puranas describe Mahapadma as a very powerful ruler. They call him ekarat, which means "sole sovereign" or "the only ruler." They also call him sarva-kshatrantaka, meaning "destroyer of all the warrior-rulers." This suggests he defeated many other kingdoms and brought them under his control.
Some of the kingdoms he is said to have conquered include the Maithalas, Kasheyas, Panchalas, and Kalingas. These victories helped expand the Nanda Empire greatly.
Different ancient texts give different ideas about how long Mahapadma Nanda ruled. One text, the Matsya Purana, says he ruled for a very long time, 88 years. Another text, the Vayu Purana, says he ruled for 28 years. The Puranas also mention that his eight sons ruled after him for a total of 12 years. Only one of his sons, Sukalpa, is named in these texts.
Historians have different ideas about the exact year Mahapadma Nanda became king. Some think it was around 382 BCE, while others suggest it was closer to 345 BCE.
Other Stories About the First Nanda King
Different historical sources tell various stories about the first Nanda king.
Buddhist Accounts
Buddhist texts say the first Nanda king was Ugrasena, not Mahapadma. Some historians believe Ugrasena might have been another name for Mahapadma. Unlike the Puranas, which say Mahapadma had a royal father and a commoner mother, Buddhist texts describe Ugrasena as having "unknown lineage." This means he was not from a royal family. One Buddhist story says Ugrasena was a robber who became a leader.
Ancient Greek and Roman writers also mention a Nanda king named "Agrammes." This name might be a changed version of "Augraseniya," which means "son or descendant of Ugrasena." This king "Agrammes" was ruling when Alexander the Great invaded India.
The Buddhist texts also say that the next eight kings were Ugrasena's brothers, not his sons. They also state that the Nanda dynasty ruled for a total of 22 years. The last of these kings was Dhana Nanda.
Jain and Greco-Roman Accounts
Jain texts, like the Parishishtaparvan, do not mention Mahapadma by name either. They say the Nanda king was the son of a barber. These texts state that this Nanda king took over the throne after King Udayin died. They also mention Kalpaka, a peaceful Jain, as his chief minister.
Greco-Roman sources also suggest that the founder of the Nanda dynasty was a barber. They say he took the throne from the last king of the previous dynasty. One Roman historian, Curtius, wrote that this barber was handsome and became close to the queen. He then secretly killed the king. After that, he pretended to be a guardian for the young princes. Later, he killed the princes too, and took full control of the kingdom. The Nanda king who ruled during Alexander's time was said to be the son of this barber.
