Chandragupta Maurya is said to have converted to:

Correct option is B

The correct answer is (B) Jainism

Explanation:

• Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Maurya Empire in India, is said to have converted to Jainism later in his life.
• After abdicating the throne in favor of his son, Bindusara, Chandragupta spent his final years in South India, where he is believed to have embraced Jainism under the influence of Bhadrabahu, a prominent Jain monk.
• He is said to have adopted an ascetic lifestyle, following Jain practices, and eventually died in Shravanabelagola in Karnataka, where he is believed to have fasted to death in accordance with Jain rituals.

Information Booster: Key Facts about Chandragupta Maurya:

1. Founder of the Maurya Empire:
• Chandragupta Maurya founded the Maurya Empire in 322 BCE, uniting most of the Indian subcontinent under one rule.
• He established his empire after overthrowing the Nanda Dynasty, with the help of his advisor Chanakya (also known as Kautilya), who played a crucial role in the political strategy that led to the formation of the empire.
2. Advisor Chanakya:
• Chandragupta's rise to power was largely due to his alliance with Chanakya, who authored the famous political treatise, the Arthashastra, which outlines statecraft, economics, and military strategies.
3. Expansion of the Empire:
• Under Chandragupta, the Maurya Empire expanded significantly, including regions such as Magadha (Bihar), Northern India, parts of Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
• He is believed to have defeated Alexander's successor, Seleucus I Nicator, who ruled parts of northwest India, forcing him to make peace and cede lands, including parts of Afghanistan.
4. Role in the Maurya Administration:
• Chandragupta Maurya established a highly efficient and centralized administration.
• He divided his empire into provinces, each headed by a governor, and had a well-organized bureaucratic system.
5. Conversion to Jainism:
• In his later years, after abdicating the throne, Chandragupta became a follower of Jainism and lived an ascetic life.
• He is said to have fasted to death in the Jain tradition at Shravanabelagola in Karnataka.
6. Succession by Bindusara:
• Chandragupta abdicated the throne in favor of his son Bindusara, who later became a powerful ruler of the Maurya Empire.
• Bindusara continued the expansion of the empire, especially in the Deccan region.
7. Legacy:
• Chandragupta’s Maurya Empire is considered one of the largest and most influential empires in Indian history. His governance laid the foundation for one of the most powerful dynasties in ancient India.
• Ashoka, his grandson, is often regarded as one of the greatest emperors of India, continuing the legacy of the Maurya dynasty.
8. Interactions with Foreign Powers:
• Chandragupta established diplomatic relations with Greek rulers, including Seleucus I Nicator.
• Megasthenes, a Greek ambassador to Chandragupta’s court, wrote the famous work Indica, which provides insights into the administration, society, and economy of the Maurya Empire.