Who was the founder of the Maurya Empire in ancient India, whose coronation was featured in the 47-part Indian television historical drama Chanakya?
Chandragupta Maurya Chandragupta Maurya (reign: 321–298 BCE) was the founder of the Maurya Empire in ancient India. He was born in a humble family, orphaned and abandoned, raised as a son by another pastoral family, then according to Buddhist texts, was picked up, taught and counselled by Chanakya, the author of the "Arthashastra". Chandragupta thereafter built one of the largest empires ever in the Indian subcontinent. According to Jain sources, he then renounced it all, and became a monk in the Jain tradition. Chandragupta is claimed, by the historic Jain texts, to have followed Jainism in his life, by first renouncing all his wealth and power, going away with Jaina monks into the Deccan region (now Karnataka), and ultimately performing Sallekhana – the Jain religious ritual of peacefully welcoming death by fasting. His grandson was emperor Ashoka, famous for his historic pillars and for his role in helping spread Buddhism outside of ancient India. Chandragupta's life and accomplishments are described in ancient Hindu, Buddhist and Greek texts, but they vary significantly in details from the Jaina accounts. Megasthenes served as a Greek ambassador in his court for four years. In Greek and Latin accounts, Chandragupta is known as Sandrokottos and Androcottus.
Ashok Rajpath Ashok Rajpath (Hindi: अशोक राजपथ) is a road in Patna, the capital of Bihar. It is named after Ashoka, an Indian emperor of the Maurya Dynasty who ruled almost all of the Indian subcontinent from ca. 269 BCE to 232 BCE. It connects Patna with Patna city or Patna Sahib. Starting roughly from Golghar, it run parallel to the river Ganges, and terminates at the Didarganj. It is a busy road owing to the presence of markets on one side and educational institute of Patna University on the other side. It has several historical places either side of it, like Golghar, Gandhi Maidan, Christ Church, Kargil Chowk, Patna University including Patna college, Science college and other colleges, PMCH, National Institute of Technology, Patna, Pathar Ki Masjid, Takht Shri Harmandir Saheb etc. The area is patrolled by the Pirbahore PS of Patna Police.