Chandragupta Maurya

Chandragupta Maurya was the founder of the Maurya Empire in South Asia. He was born in a humble family, was picked up, taught and counselled by Chanakya (also known as Kautilya) – a Hindu Brahmin who wrote the Arthashastra. Together, Chandragupta and Chanakya built one of the largest empires in the subcontinent.

Modern statue of Chandragupta Maurya at Birla Temple, Delhi

Chandragupta Maurya defeated Seleucus I Nicator, one of the successful satrapies of Alexander the Great and married Seleucus I Nicator daughter Helena . He was the ruler until 297 BC. He became a Jain monk and died at Shravanabelagola of Karnataka in the same year.