The Mauryan Invasion of the Tamilakam

Summary

The Mauryan invasion of Tamilakam remains debated, with scholars like K. H. Nilakantha Sastri noting unresolved references to mountain passes and chariot movements in ancient texts. Early theories, such as Bishop Caldwell’s 5th-century dating for Tamil literature’s Augustan age, were challenged by Dr. S. Krishnaswamy Ayyangar, who aligned it with the 2nd century CE, supported by V. Kanakasabhai. Later, Pandit M. Raghava Ayyangar linked the Chera emperor Senguttuvan to the 5th century, citing Sangam-era poet Mamulanar’s references to Mauryan conflicts and the destruction of Pataliputra, which he interpreted as the Nandas’ downfall. However, Dr. Ayyangar contested this, arguing the Nandas’ collapse was internal, not due to floods, and rejecting the equation of Mauryan invaders with Gupta-era forces. He emphasized that Tamil texts describe past Mauryan incursions, not contemporary events, aligning with claims of Tamil kings like Nedum Seliyan (Silappadhikaram) defeating northern armies. The discovery of Ashoka’s Maski edict confirmed Mauryan territorial reach but left southern conquests ambiguous, possibly attributed to Bindusira or Prince Kharavela. The invasion likely occurred during post-Mauryan political fragmentation, with Tamil kingdoms later asserting victories over northern powers.