Bengal during the Age of Maurya period

 Bengal during the Age of Maurya period

There were no sources available to write any chronological history of ancient Bengal prior to the age of Gupta because people of that time were not used to writing history like those of today. We get a few sources of history from sporadic and separated comments in Indian and foreign literatures about Bengal of that time. It is not possible to write any chronological history attached with dates, years and authentic events by unjustly joining these unconnected events. In fact, in 327 B.C. -26 A.D. during the invasion of India by Greek hero Alexander, history took its original form. In the writings of Greek writers there was a powerful kingdom named 'Gongariddi' in Bengal. The nation 'Gongaridi' inhabited in the region between the two streams of the Ganges now known as the Bhagirathi and the Padma. The Greek writers referred to another nation called 'Prasioy' in addition to 'Gongaridi'.Their capital was Palibothra (Patliputra). It can be guessed depending on the descriptions of the Greek writers that these two nations took their arms against Alexander under the leadership of the same dynasty. It can be guessed that during Alexander's invasion the king of Bengal extended his kingdom upto Punjab. He was someone king belonging the conquering Magadha and surrounding kingdom to Nanda Dynasty of Patliputra. It is beyond doubt from comments of ancient Greek writers that the king of Bengal was the most powerful at that time. Just after two years of the departure of Alexander from India in 321 B.C. Maurya king Chandra gupta Maurya established the lordship of Maurya Dynasty on a vast region of India. During the reign of Emperor Ashoka (269B.C.-232 B.C.) the Maurya rule was established in North Bengal. The region turned to a province of the Mauryans. Ancient Pundranagar was the capital of this province. Besides, north Bengal, Maurya rule was established in Karnasubarno (Murshidabad), Tamralipta (Hoogly) and Samatata (South-east Bengal). After the fall of Maurya Empire, Shunga dynasty and later Kanva dynasty appeared. We do not have enough sources to know the history of this age. It is thought that they established their rule on some small regions. After that quite a good number of foreign powers inveded India. Among them Greek, 'Saka' 'Pahlav', 'Kushana' are mentionable. But it cannot be said whether these inbedors came upto Bengal. Quite a number of sources are available to historians to know about the Gupta Age. It has been easy to write the history of the last half of the Third century and the first phase of the 4th century from these sources. Gupta Empire was established in India in 320 A.D. Then some independent kingdoms came into being in Bengal. Among them Samatata of South-east Bengal and Puskoron of West Bengal are mentionable. Some sections of the North Bengal came under the possession of Gupta Empire just during the reign of Gupta Emperor Chandragupta. Though whole Bengal was conquered during the reign of Samudragupta, Samatata was a vanal kingdom. Since the reign of Samudragupta up to the middle of the sixth century North Bengal was used to be considered as a 'Province' or 'Bhukti' of Gupta Empire. Like the Mauryas, Pundrangar of Mohasthangar was the capital of the Gupta kings of the province.