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{{Short description|Ancient Indian Philosopher and polymath}} | {{Short description|Ancient Indian Philosopher and polymath}} | ||
{{About}} | {{About}} | ||
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}} | |||
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2013}} | {{Use Indian English|date=March 2013}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}} | ||
{{Infobox person | {{Infobox person | ||
| honorific_prefix = Acharya | | honorific_prefix = [[Acharya]] | ||
| name | | name = Chanakya | ||
| image | | image = Chanakya artistic depiction.jpg | ||
| caption | | caption = | ||
| birth_place | | birth_place = 375 BCE, Chanaka village in Golla region (Jain legends);{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=21}}<br />or in [[Takshashila]] (Buddhist legends){{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=12}} | ||
| death_place | | death_place = 283 BCE, [[Pataliputra]], [[Maurya Empire]] | ||
| occupation | | occupation = [[Teacher]], [[philosopher]], [[economist]], [[jurist]], advisor of [[Chandragupta Maurya]] | ||
| known_for | | known_for = Prominent role in the foundation of the [[Maurya Empire]]<br/>''[[Arthashastra]]''<br/>''[[Chanakyaniti]]'' | ||
| | | office = [[Amatya]] of [[Mauryan Empire]] | ||
| successor = Rakshas | |||
| predecessor = Position established | |||
}} | }} | ||
Chanakya assisted the first Mauryan emperor [[Chandragupta Maurya|Chandragupta]] in his rise to power | '''Chanakya''' ([[Sanskrit]]: चाणक्य; [[IAST]]: ''{{IAST|Cāṇakya}}'', {{pronunciation|Chanakya.ogg}}; 375–283 BCE) was an ancient Indian polymath who was active as a teacher, author, strategist, [[philosopher]], [[economist]], [[jurist]], and royal advisor. He is traditionally identified as '''Kauṭilya''' or '''Vishnugupta''', who authored the ancient Indian political treatise, the ''[[Arthashastra]]'',<ref name="Mabbett">{{cite journal |last1=Mabbett |first1=I. W. |title=The Date of the Arthaśāstra |journal=Journal of the American Oriental Society |volume=84 |issue=2 |pages=162–169 |issn=0003-0279 |doi=10.2307/597102 |jstor=597102 |year=1964 |publisher=American Oriental Society }}</ref> a text dated to roughly between the fourth century BCE and the third century CE.<ref>{{cite book|title=Transaction and Hierarchy|date = 9 August 2017|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AOsrDwAAQBAJ|page=56|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1351393966}}</ref> As such, he is considered the pioneer of the field of [[political science]] and economics in India, and his work is thought of as an important precursor to [[classical economics]].<ref>L. K. Jha, K. N. Jha (1998). "Chanakya: the pioneer economist of the world", ''International Journal of Social Economics'' '''25''' (2–4), p. 267–282.</ref><ref name="bss.sfsu.edu">Waldauer, C., Zahka, W.J. and Pal, S. 1996. [http://online.sfsu.edu/mbar/ECON605_files/Waldauer%20et%20al%201996.pdf Kauṭilya's Arthashastra: A neglected precursor to classical economics]. ''Indian Economic Review'', Vol. XXXI, No. 1, pp. 101–108.</ref><ref>Tisdell, C. 2003. [http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:84337 A Western perspective of Kauṭilya's Arthashastra: does it provide a basis for economic science?] ''Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Paper No. 18''. Brisbane: School of Economics, The University of Queensland.</ref><ref>Sihag, B.S. 2007. Kauṭilya on institutions, governance, knowledge, ethics and prosperity. ''Humanomics'' 23 (1): 5–28.</ref> His works were lost near the end of the [[Gupta Empire]] in the sixth century CE and not rediscovered until the early 20th century.<ref name="bss.sfsu.edu"/> | ||
Around 321 BCE, Chanakya assisted the first Mauryan emperor [[Chandragupta Maurya|Chandragupta]] in his rise to power and is widely credited for having played an important role in the establishment of the [[Maurya Empire]]. Chanakya served as the chief advisor to both emperors Chandragupta and his son [[Bindusara]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Society|first=National Geographic|date=2020-08-20|title=Mauryan Empire|url=http://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/mauryan-empire/|access-date=2022-01-20|website=National Geographic Society|language=en}}</ref> | |||
== Background == | == Background == | ||
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== Legends == | == Legends == | ||
[[File:Nanda Empire, c.325 BCE.png|thumb|right|Dhana Nanda's empire, circa 323 BCE]] | [[File:Nanda Empire, c.325 BCE.png|thumb|right|Dhana Nanda's empire, circa 323 BCE]] | ||
=== Jain version === | === Jain version === | ||
According to the Jain account, Chanakya was born to two lay Jains (''[[shravaka]]'') named Chanin and Chaneshvari. His birthplace was the Chanaka village in Golla ''vishaya'' (region).{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=21}} The identity of "Golla" is not certain, but Hemachandra states that Chanakya was a [[Dravidian people|Dramila]], implying that he was a native of [[South India]].<ref>{{cite book |author=Kallidaikurichi Aiyah Nilakanta Sastri | According to the Jain account, Chanakya was born to two lay Jains (''[[shravaka]]'') named Chanin and Chaneshvari. His birthplace was the Chanaka village in Golla ''vishaya'' (region).{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=21}} The identity of "Golla" is not certain, but Hemachandra states that Chanakya was a [[Dravidian people|Dramila]], implying that he was a native of [[South India]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Kallidaikurichi Aiyah Nilakanta Sastri|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YoAwor58utYC&pg=PA148|title=Age of the Nandas and Mauryas|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|year=1988|isbn=978-81-208-0466-1|page=148}}</ref> | ||
Chanakya was born with a full set of teeth. According to the monks, this was a sign that he would become a king in the future. Chanin did not want his son to become haughty, so he broke Chanakya's teeth. The monks prophesied that the baby would go on to become a [[power behind the throne]].{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=21}} Chanakya grew up to be a learned ''shravaka'', and married a Brahmin woman. Her relatives mocked her for being married to a poor man. This motivated Chanakya to visit [[Pataliputra]], and seek donations from the king Nanda, who was famous for his generosity towards Brahmins. While waiting for the king at the royal court, Chanakya sat on the king's throne. A ''dasi'' (servant girl) courteously offered Chanakya the next seat, but Chanakya kept his [[kamandal]] (water pot) on it, while remaining seated on the throne. The servant offered him a choice of four more seats, but each time, he kept his various items on the seats, refusing to budge from the throne. Finally, the annoyed servant kicked him off the throne. Enraged, Chanakya vowed to uproot Nanda and his entire establishment, like "a great wind uproots a tree".{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=22}} | Chanakya was born with a full set of teeth. According to the monks, this was a sign that he would become a king in the future. Chanin did not want his son to become haughty, so he broke Chanakya's teeth. The monks prophesied that the baby would go on to become a [[power behind the throne]].{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=21}} Chanakya grew up to be a learned ''shravaka'', and married a Brahmin woman. Her relatives mocked her for being married to a poor man. This motivated Chanakya to visit [[Pataliputra]], and seek donations from the king Nanda, who was famous for his generosity towards Brahmins. While waiting for the king at the royal court, Chanakya sat on the king's throne. A ''dasi'' (servant girl) courteously offered Chanakya the next seat, but Chanakya kept his [[kamandal]] (water pot) on it, while remaining seated on the throne. The servant offered him a choice of four more seats, but each time, he kept his various items on the seats, refusing to budge from the throne. Finally, the annoyed servant kicked him off the throne. Enraged, Chanakya vowed to uproot Nanda and his entire establishment, like "a great wind uproots a tree".{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=22}} | ||
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Chanakya used to mix small doses of poison in Chandragupta's food to make him immune to poisoning attempts. The king, unaware of this, once shared his food with Queen [[Durdhara]]. Chanakya entered the room at the instant she died. He cut open the dead queen's belly and took out the baby. The baby, who had been touched by a drop ("''bindu''") of the poison, was named Bindusara.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=25}} | Chanakya used to mix small doses of poison in Chandragupta's food to make him immune to poisoning attempts. The king, unaware of this, once shared his food with Queen [[Durdhara]]. Chanakya entered the room at the instant she died. He cut open the dead queen's belly and took out the baby. The baby, who had been touched by a drop ("''bindu''") of the poison, was named Bindusara.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=25}} | ||
After Chandragupta abdicated the throne to become a Jain monk, Chanakya anointed Bindusara as the new king.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=25}} Chanakya asked Bindusara to appoint a man named Subandhu as one of his ministers. However, Subandhu wanted to become a higher minister and grew jealous of Chanakya. So, he told Bindusara that Chanakya was responsible for the death of his mother. Bindusara confirmed the allegations with the nurses, who told him that Chanakya had cut open the belly of his mother. And enraged Bindusara started hating Chanakya. As a result, Chanakya, who had grown very old by this time, retired and decided to [[sallekhana|starve himself to death]]. Meanwhile, Bindusara came to know about the detailed circumstances of his birth, and implored Chanakya to resume his ministerial duties. After failing to pacify Chanakya, the emperor ordered Subandhu to convince Chanakya to give up his suicide plan. Subandhu, while pretending to appease Chanakya, burned him to death. Subandhu then took possession of Chanakya's home. Chanakya had anticipated this, and before retiring, he had set up a cursed trap for Subandhu. He had left behind a chest with a hundred locks. Subandhu broke the locks, hoping to find precious jewels. He found a sweet-smelling perfume and immediately inhaled it. But then his eyes fell on a [[birch bark manuscript|birch bark note]] with a curse written on it. The note declared that anybody who smelled this perfume will have to either become a monk or face death. Subandhu tested the perfume on another man, and then fed him luxurious food (something that the monks abstain from). The man died, and then Subandhu was forced to become a monk to avoid death.<ref name="Rosalind_1993">{{cite book | | After Chandragupta abdicated the throne to become a Jain monk, Chanakya anointed Bindusara as the new king.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=25}} Chanakya asked Bindusara to appoint a man named Subandhu as one of his ministers. However, Subandhu wanted to become a higher minister and grew jealous of Chanakya. So, he told Bindusara that Chanakya was responsible for the death of his mother. Bindusara confirmed the allegations with the nurses, who told him that Chanakya had cut open the belly of his mother. And enraged Bindusara started hating Chanakya. As a result, Chanakya, who had grown very old by this time, retired and decided to [[sallekhana|starve himself to death]]. Meanwhile, Bindusara came to know about the detailed circumstances of his birth, and implored Chanakya to resume his ministerial duties. After failing to pacify Chanakya, the emperor ordered Subandhu to convince Chanakya to give up his suicide plan. Subandhu, while pretending to appease Chanakya, burned him to death. Subandhu then took possession of Chanakya's home. Chanakya had anticipated this, and before retiring, he had set up a cursed trap for Subandhu. He had left behind a chest with a hundred locks. Subandhu broke the locks, hoping to find precious jewels. He found a sweet-smelling perfume and immediately inhaled it. But then his eyes fell on a [[birch bark manuscript|birch bark note]] with a curse written on it. The note declared that anybody who smelled this perfume will have to either become a monk or face death. Subandhu tested the perfume on another man, and then fed him luxurious food (something that the monks abstain from). The man died, and then Subandhu was forced to become a monk to avoid death.<ref name="Rosalind_1993">{{cite book|author=Motilal Banarsidass|title=The Clever Adulteress and Other Stories: A Treasury of Jaina Literature|year=1993|isbn=9788120811508|editor=Phyllis Granoff|editor-link=Phyllis Granoff|pages=204–206|translator=Rosalind Lefeber|chapter=The Minister Cāṇakya, from the Pariśiṣtaparvan of Hemacandra|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Po9tUNX0SYAC&pg=PA204}}</ref><ref name="HJ_1891">{{cite book|author=Hemachandra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iSFCAQAAMAAJ|title=Sthavir̂aval̂i charita, or, Pariśishtaparvan|publisher=Asiatic Society|year=1891|location=Calcutta|pages=67–68|translator=[[Hermann Jacobi]]}}</ref> | ||
According to another Jain text – the ''Rajavali-Katha'' – Chanakya accompanied Chandragupta to forest for [[sannyasa|retirement]], once Bindusara became the king.{{sfn|Rice|1889|p=9}} | According to another Jain text – the ''Rajavali-Katha'' – Chanakya accompanied Chandragupta to forest for [[sannyasa|retirement]], once Bindusara became the king.{{sfn|Rice|1889|p=9}} | ||
=== Buddhist version === | |||
According to the Buddhist legend, the [[Nanda dynasty|Nanda kings]] who preceded Chandragupta were robbers-turned-rulers.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=11}} Chanakya ([[IAST]]: Cāṇakka in ''Mahavamsa'') was a [[Brahmin]] from Takkāsila ([[Takshashila]]). He was well-versed in three [[Vedas]] and politics. He had canine teeth, which were believed to be a mark of royalty. His mother feared that he would neglect her after becoming a king.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=12}} To pacify her, Chanakya broke his teeth.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=13}} | |||
Chanakya was said to be [[Unattractiveness|ugly]], accentuated by his broken teeth and crooked feet. One day, the king [[Dhana Nanda]] organized an alms-giving ceremony for Brahmins. Chanakya went to Pupphapura ([[Pushpapura]]) to attend this ceremony. Disgusted by his appearance, the king ordered him to be thrown out of the assembly. Chanakya broke his [[sacred thread]] in anger, and cursed the king. The king ordered his arrest, but Chanakya escaped in the disguise of an [[Ājīvika]]. He befriended Dhananada's son Pabbata, and instigated him to seize the throne. With help of a [[signet ring]] given by the prince, Chanakya fled the palace through a secret door.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=13}} | |||
Chanakya escaped to the [[Vindhya Range|Vinjha]] forest. There, he made 800 million gold coins (''[[Karshapana|kahapana]]''s), using a secret technique that allowed him to turn 1 coin into 8 coins. After hiding this money, he started searching for a person worthy of replacing Dhana Nanda.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=13}} One day, he saw a group of children playing: the young Chandragupta (called Chandagutta in ''Mahavamsa'') played the role of a king, while other boys pretended to be vassals, ministers, or robbers. The "robbers" were brought before Chandragupta, who ordered their limbs to be cut off, but then miraculously re-attached them. Chandragupta had been born in a royal family, but was brought up by a hunter after his father was killed by an usurper, and the [[devata]]s caused his mother to abandon him. Astonished by the boy's miraculous powers, Chanakya paid 1000 gold coins to his foster-father, and took Chandragupta away, promising to teach him a trade.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=14}} | |||
Chanakya had two potential successors to Dhana Nanda: Pabbata and Chandragupta. He gave each of them an amulet to be worn around the neck with a woolen thread. One day, he decided to test them. While Chandragupta was asleep, he asked Pabbata to remove Chandragupta's woolen thread without breaking it and without waking up Chandragupta. Pabbata failed to accomplish this task. Some time later, when Pabbata was sleeping, Chanakya challenged Chandragupta to complete the same task. Chandragupta retrieved the woolen thread by cutting off Pabbata's head. For the next seven years, Chanakya trained Chandragupta for royal duties. When Chandragupta became an adult, Chanakya dug up his hidden treasure of gold coins, and assembled an army.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=14}} | |||
The army of Chanadragupta and Chanakya invaded Dhana Nanda's kingdom, but disbanded after facing a severe defeat. While wandering in disguise, the two men once listened to the conversation between a woman and her son. The child had eaten the middle of a cake, and thrown away the edges. The woman scolded him, saying that he was eating food like Chandragupta, who attacked the central part of the kingdom instead of conquering the border villages first. Chanakya and Chandragupta realized their mistake. They assembled a new army, and started conquering the border villages. Gradually, they advanced to the kingdom's capital [[Pataliputra]] (Pāṭaliputta in ''Mahavamsa''), where they killed the king Dhana Nanda. Chanakya ordered a fisherman to find the place where Dhana Nanda had hidden his treasure. As soon as the fishermen informed Chanakya about its location, Chanakya had him killed. Chanakya anointed Chandragupta as the new king, and tasked a man named Paṇiyatappa with eliminating rebels and robbers from the kingdom.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=15}} | |||
Chanakya started mixing small doses of poison in the new king's food to make him immune to poisoning attempts by the enemies. Chandragupta, who was not aware of this, once shared the food with his pregnant queen, who was seven days away from delivery. Chanakya arrived just as the queen ate the poisoned morsel. Realizing that she was going to die, Chanakya decided to save the unborn child. He cut off the queen's head and cut open her belly with a sword to take out the foetus. Over the next seven days, he placed the foetus in the belly of a goat freshly killed each day. After seven days, Chandragupta's son was "born". He was named [[Bindusara]], because his body was spotted with drops (''bindu'') of goat's blood.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=15}} | |||
The earliest Buddhist legends do not mention Chanakya in their description of the Mauryan dynasty after this point.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=14}} [[Atthakatha#Dhammapala|Dhammapala]]'s commentary on ''[[Theragatha]]'', however, mentions a legend about Chanakya and a Brahmin named Subandhu. According to this account, Chanakya was afraid that the wise Subandhu would surpass him at Chandragupta's court. So, he got Chandragupta to imprison Subandhu, whose son Tekicchakani escaped and became a Buddhist monk.{{sfn|Trautmann|1971|p=28}} The 16th-century Tibetan Buddhist author [[Taranatha]] mentions Chanakya as one of Bindusara's "great lords". According to him, Chanakya destroyed the nobles and kings of 16 towns and made Bindusara the master of all the territory between the eastern and the western seas ([[Arabian Sea]] and the [[Bay of Bengal]]).{{sfn|Upinder Singh|2016|p=331}} | |||
=== Kashmiri version === | === Kashmiri version === | ||
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== Chanakyan vocabulary == | == Chanakyan vocabulary == | ||
Chanakya uses different terms to describe war other than [[dharma-yuddha]] (just war), such as [[Kutayuddha|kutayudhha]] (unjust war).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Workshop on Kautilya: Creating Strategic Vocabulary|url=https://idsa.in/event/WorkshoponKautilyaCreatingStrategicVocabulary|url-status=live|access-date=2021-11-11|website=Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses}}</ref> | Chanakya uses different terms to describe war other than [[dharma-yuddha]] (just war), such as [[Kutayuddha|kutayudhha]] (unjust war).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Workshop on Kautilya: Creating Strategic Vocabulary|url=https://idsa.in/event/WorkshoponKautilyaCreatingStrategicVocabulary|url-status=live|access-date=2021-11-11|website=Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329143043/http://www.idsa.in:80/event/WorkshoponKautilyaCreatingStrategicVocabulary |archive-date=29 March 2013 }}</ref> | ||
== In Popular Culture == | == In Popular Culture == | ||