Maurya Candragupta and Mayurbhanj Rulers

Summary

This article explores the ancestry of the Maurya emperor Chandragupta and links it to the rulers of Mayurbhanj in Orissa. The Sanskrit drama ‘Mudrārākṣasa’ portrays Chandragupta as the son of a Śūdra woman, whereas the Buddhist chronicle ‘Mahāvaṃsa’ traces him to the warrior Moriya clan descended from the Ikṣvāku lineage. The author seeks to reconcile these traditions by analysing copper‑plate grants issued by the Bhanja rulers of Mayurbhanj, who claimed to be descendants of the Moriya chiefs. After reviewing existing grants such as the Bamanghati, Khandadeuli and Ukhunda plates, he describes a newly discovered copper‑plate from Ukhunda near Khiching. This charter is larger than earlier plates, bears medallions with lions and bulls, and records a land grant by a king styled as Morasvamin (lord of the Moriyas). Its genealogy lists a succession of kings whose names closely resemble those of the early Mauryas. The author argues that these similarities show a direct connection between the Maurya and Mayurbhanj dynasties. He also analyses linguistic features of the inscriptions, noting that the titles ‘Moriya’ and ‘Maurya’ were interchangeable in Prakrit. By comparing the record with Puranic lists and Buddhist sources, the article contends that Chandragupta’s family belonged to the Moriya clan of Kṣatriyas, contradicting the assertion that he was of low birth. The study further examines the political history of Mayurbhanj, showing that the Bhanja rulers rose to prominence in the seventh and eighth centuries and that their adoption of the Maurya genealogy legitimised their authority. The author concludes that the Mayurbhanj copper‑plates provide independent support for the traditional view that Chandragupta belonged to the Moriya clan and that the Maurya dynasty’s legitimacy rested on its claimed descent from the ancient Ikṣvākus. This conclusion challenges accounts that derive Chandragupta’s lineage from humble origins.