Origins of Chandragupta

Chandragupta or Chandra Gupta Maurya was thehumiliated by the Nandas. He met Chandragupta and
grandfather of "Ashoka the Great" and founder of thebrought him to Taxila.
Mauryan dynasty in India. He was the first of the greatSome speculate that he was either a Shudra or
kings originating from Bihar (ancient Magadh) in the thirdVaishya by caste and his family was involved in
century BC. It is known that he had a humble beginning.taming peacocks (Mayura in Sanskrit, Mor in Hindi
Several theories have been postulated about hisMagadhi and Mora in Pali is peacocks). Some Buddhist
beginnings. Two of them seem most appropriate.texts have indicated that he might be of the "Sakya
His parents having passed away, he was sold by hisclan" as of the Buddha. But some historians suggest
uncle to a trader. One day he was playing with otherthat this might be an attempt to associate the
boys. He was given the role of a king where he gaveMauryas and Buddha together as originators of
judgements to his subjects. Nearby Vishnu Gupta (alsoBuddhism in Sri Lanka.
know and Kautilya or Chanakya) watched. He boughtChandragupta plotted to invade Magadh with the help
the boy from the trader and brought him to Taxilaof the Macedonian army of Alexander. However the
University (now in modern Pakistan) where Chanakyaidea failed hence he gathered an army of his own and
taught him the art of political science.invaded the outskirts of Magadh and finally defeated
Other story indicates that he was a son of a Nandathe Dhanananda, the last of the Nanda kings in 321 BC.
king. His mother was a princess called "Mura" but moreHe established himself the king of Magadh with
likely a maid. He was brought up like a prince in theChanakya his advisor and prime minister. It was this
royal Nanda palace. The Nanda rulers were powerfulMaurya dynasty that covered a large part of India
but highly unpopular. Chankya was a Brahmin courtiergiving the concept of one unified India.