Chandragupta Maurya's Guru's name
VerifiedAnswer: Chanakya or Kautilya
Explanation:
Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the great Mauryan Empire, was guided and mentored by one of ancient India's most brilliant minds - Chanakya, who is also known by the name Kautilya. This remarkable teacher-student relationship became one of the most celebrated partnerships in Indian history.
Chanakya was a learned scholar, political strategist, and economist who lived in the 4th century BCE. He was a professor at the ancient Takshashila University (modern-day Pakistan), which was one of the world's earliest universities. His real name was Vishnugupta, but he became famous by his other names - Chanakya and Kautilya.
The story of how Chanakya became Chandragupta's guru is quite fascinating. According to historical accounts, Chanakya was humiliated by the Nanda king Dhanananda. This incident motivated him to overthrow the Nanda dynasty. When he met young Chandragupta Maurya, he recognized the boy's potential to become a great ruler and decided to mentor him.
Under Chanakya's guidance, Chandragupta not only learned the art of warfare and governance but also developed the strategic thinking necessary to build and maintain an empire. Chanakya taught him various subjects including politics, economics, military strategy, and administration. Together, they successfully overthrew the Nanda dynasty and established the Mauryan Empire around 321 BCE.
Chanakya is also famous for writing the "Arthashastra," one of the most important ancient texts on political science, economic policy, and military strategy. This comprehensive guide covered everything from taxation and trade to espionage and diplomacy, showing his deep understanding of statecraft.
The relationship between Chandragupta and his guru Chanakya demonstrates the importance of having a wise mentor. Chanakya not only helped Chandragupta become a successful ruler but also ensured that the empire had strong administrative systems that would last for generations. Even today, Chanakya's teachings and strategies are studied in management and political science courses around the world.
