Question

Who was the founder of the Nanda Dynasty?
 (a))Bimbisara
(b) Mahapadma Nanda
(c)Ajatasatru
(d) Dhanananda

Answer 1

Hint: During the fourth century BCE, the Nanda Dynasty ruled in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent. In the Magadha region of eastern India, The Nandas overthrew the Shishunaga dynasty and expanded their empire to include a larger part of northern India.

Complete answer: The founder of the Nanda Dynasty was " Mahapadma Nanda", He is referred to as the “first historical emperor of India.” According to the Puranas, he was the son of the last Sisunaga king from a Sudra woman but on the basis of few Jain texts and Greek writer Curtius, he was the son of a barber and a courtesan. The reign of Mahapadma Nanda lasted for about twenty-eight years in between the years of 367 BC and 338 BC. He is also referred to as “Sarva Kashtriyantaka '' which means the destroyer of all the Kshatriyas and''Ekrat ``.
Mahapadma Nanda, murdered Kalasoka to become the king and acquired the throne.
The empire developed and grew under his reign. It expanded from the Kuru country in the north to the south of Godavari Valley and from Magadha in the east to West in Narmada. Mahapadma Nanda conquered several kingdoms including Kalinga.

Note: Nandas were very fond of wealth and were disliked because of their heavy taxes and undue exaction from the public. According to the Greek writers the army of the Nandas consisted of 20,00,000 infantry, 20,000 cavalries, 2,000 four-horsed charioteers and 30,000 elephants. Due to this, the people helped Chandragupta Maurya when the latter attacked Magadha in about 323-322 B.C and deserted them.