Nanda Dynasty (345-321 BC)

By Bharat Choudhary -
Nanda Dynasty was first non-Kshatriya dynasty of ancient India, established by Mahapdmananda or Ugrasena (name found in Mahabodhivamsa). Nanda Dynasty extended from Bengal in the east to the Punjab region in the west and as far south as the Vindhya Range.

:Notable Rulers of Nanda Dynasty:

 1. Mahapadmananda:
  • Mahapadmananda was the first low-caste ('Shudra') sovereign, as he didn't belong to the Kshatriya clan.
  • He was the first great historical emperor of northern India.
  • In the Puranas, Mahapadma Nanda has been described as "Sarva-Kshatrantak - the destroyer of all the Kshatriyas".
  • He is also known as 'Second Parasurama'.
    • Parasurama: In mythology, Parashurama (Sanskrit: परशुराम IAST: Paraśurāma, lit. Rama with an axe) is the sixth avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism. Parashurama is most known for ridding the world of kshatriyas twenty-one times. So did the Mahapadamananda by defeating Panchalas, Kashis, Haihayas, Kalingas, Asmakas, Kurus, Maithilas, Surasenas and the Vitihotras, hence sometimes called 'Second Parasuram'.
  • 'Mahabodhivamsa' calls him 'Ugrasena'.
  • He declared himself as an "ekachhatra or ekrata", meaning the only emperor in the entire land.
  • He was the first emperor to cross Vindhyanchal range.
  • City of Nav-Nanda-Dhera (city of nine Nandas) was situated on the bank of River Godavari.
  • According to Hathigumpha (near Bhubaneshwar, Orissa) inscription of Kharavela, he won Kalinga. He also built a canal in Kalinga.
2. Dhanananda:
  • Greek historians called Dhanananda 'Agrammes' or 'Xandramas', son of Ugrasen.
  • Dhana Nanda was described in the book Mahavamsa Tika as “addict to hold treasure”.
  • He is known for establishing a huge army of 200,000 infantry, 20,000 cavalries, 2,000 war chariots and 3,000 war elephants. (Ref. Curtius; and Plutarch)
  • He invented a particular measure known as 'Nandopakramani'.
  • Alexander invaded India in year 326 BC during the reign of Dhanananda over Magadha Empire.
  • In 321 BC, Chandragupta was able to overthrow Dhana Nanda because of his unpopularity in among his people. 
Bibliography:

1. Ancient India: A Historic Outline by D. N. Jha
2. History and Culture of Ancient India by K. C. Shrivastava
3. Early India by Romila Thapar

ADVT: Click Here To Download 'Ancient Indian History Maps' App from Google Play Store.

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