People who have faced very difficult situations in their life and are walking on the path of success, are aware of the name of Chanakya very well. Chanakya’s real name was Vishnugupta.
Chanakya Biography Profile
| Name : | Kauṭilya or Vishnugupta |
| Nick Name: | Chanakya |
| Date of birth: | 375 AD |
| Place of born: | Taxila (now District Rawalpindi, Pakistan) Village Chanak in Gola region (present day Orissa) (according to Jain syllabus) |
| Hometown : | Takshshila |
| Father Name : | Rishi Kanak |
| Mother Name: | Chaneshwari |
| Wife Name: | Yeshomati |
| Education: | Studies in sociology, political science, economics, philosophy, etc |
| University : | Takshashila or Taxila University, ancient India (present-day Rawalpindi, Pakistan) |
| Profession: | Teacher, Philosopher, Economist, Diplomat and General Secretary of Chandragupta Maurya |
| Date of Death: | 283 AD. |
| Place of Death: | Pataliputra (present day Patna), India |
| Death Cause: | According to some scholars, due to not eating |
who was Chanakya
Chanakya was a teacher, a philosopher, an economist and a politician who wrote the Indian political treatise Arthashastra (Science of Politics and Economics).
He played an important role in the establishment of the Mauryan dynasty. Born into a poor Brahmin family, Chanakya was educated at Taxashila (now in Pakistan), an ancient education centre located in the north-western part of India.
He was a scholar with deep knowledge in various subjects like economics, politics, war strategy, medicine and astrology.
By becoming a trustworthycomrade of Emperor Chandragupta,he began his career as a teacher. By working as an advisor of the emperor, he helped Chandragupta overthrow the powerful Nanda dynasty at Pataliputra in the Magadha region and helped Chandragupta gaining newsovereignties.
He was also an advisor to Chandragupta’s son Bindusara. In this article we will know more about Chanakya Biography, Birth, Education, Struggles faced in life, Life History of Chanakya.
Chanakya Birth & Early Life
Chanakya was born in a poor Brahmin family at Taxashilain 375 BC. His father’s name was Kanak and mother’s name was Chaneswari. As a child, he studied the Vedas and learned about politics.
He had a natal teeth. It was believed that having natal teeth was a sign of becoming a king. His mother once got scared hearing an astrologer saying “he will grow up to be king and forget me after becoming king”. Then he broke his natal teeth and promised his mother, “Mom, you don’t have to worry. I will look after you.”
Chanakya’seducatipn was done in Taxashila. He was not very good looking. Everyone always made fun of his broken teeth, dark complexion and crooked legs. That is why there was always a flame of anger in his eyes.
After completing hiseducation, he started working as a teacher in nearby areas including Taxashila, Nalanda.
He strongly believed that “a woman who is physically beautiful can keep you happy for one night only. But a woman beautiful by heart keeps you happy for life.
That is why he married a girl named Yashodhara in his Brahmin lineage. She was also not as beautiful as Chanakya. His black complex became a cause of ridicule for some people.
Once when his wife went to her brother’s house on a occassion, everyone made fun of their poverty. Unhappy with this, his wife advised Chanakya to meetKing Dhanananda and get some money as a gift.
Kautilya Philosophy
Kautilya’s philosophy was centered on the idea that the primary duty of a ruler is to maintain the security and prosperity of the state and its people. To achieve this goal, he believed that a ruler must be strong, wise, and just, and must be willing to use any means necessary to protect the state. This includes using diplomacy, economic policy, and military force as needed.
Kautilya also emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong and efficient bureaucracy to support the ruler and ensure the smooth functioning of the state. He believed that the ruler should be advised by a council of wise and experienced officials who could provide valuable counsel and help to make informed decisions.
Must Read : Narsinh Mehta Profile, Biography, Life History, Birth, Death
In addition to his practical advice on governance, Kautilya also wrote about a number of philosophical and ethical issues, including the importance of truth, justice, and compassion. Overall, his philosophy reflects a pragmatic and realistic approach to governance that is focused on achieving practical results and ensuring the well-being of the state and its people.
Chanakya Niti
Chanakya Niti is a collection of ancient Indian political thoughts and strategies written by Chanakya, also known as Kautilya, in the 4th century BC. The text is considered to be a treatise on the science of governance and is considered to be one of the oldest and most influential works on statecraft in the world. It contains practical advice on how a king should rule and maintain power, as well as how to deal with enemies, friends, and subjects. The text also covers topics such as economics, diplomacy, and war. It has been widely studied and interpreted by scholars and has had a significant influence on the development of political thought and governance in India.
Death of Chanakya
There are several different accounts of the death of Chanakya, also known as Kautilya or Vishnugupta. According to one popular legend, Chanakya died at the age of 100 after a long and illustrious career as a statesman, strategist, and scholar. It is said that he died in the palace of the Mauryan Emperor Chandragupta, surrounded by his disciples and followers.
Another legend suggests that Chanakya died in a more violent manner, after being poisoned by one of the many enemies he had made during his career. According to this legend, Chanakya had received a warning about the plot to poison him, but he dismissed it, saying that he had already outlived his natural lifespan and that he was ready to die.
Must Read : Swami Vivekananda Biography – Born, Early Life, Education
It is also possible that Chanakya simply died of old age, as he is believed to have lived to be around 100 years old. Regardless of the circumstances of his death, Chanakya is remembered as one of the greatest political thinkers and strategists in Indian history.
Chanakya Quotes
Here are a few famous quotes from Chanakya Niti:
- “The biggest guru-mantra is: never share your secrets with anybody. It will destroy you.”
- “The world’s biggest power is the youth and beauty of a woman.”
- “There is some self-interest behind every friendship. There is no friendship without self-interests. This is a bitter truth.”
- “The happiness and peace attained by those satisfied by the nectar of spiritual tranquility is not attained by greedy persons restlessly moving here and there.”
- “As long as your body is healthy and under control and death is distant, strive for self-realization.”
- “Learning which is not put into practice is like a corpse, which, though it may have many limbs, is of no use.”
- “A man is born alone and dies alone; and he experiences the good and bad consequences of his karma alone; and he goes alone to hell or the supreme abode.”
- “Acquire wealth by means of virtue and justice, not by fraud and deceit.”
- “The wicked are arrested by their own deeds, as if tied with chains and ropes.”
- “Silence is the best answer to a fool.”
Who was Chanakya?
Chanakya was an ancient Indian polymath who was active as a teacher, author, strategist, philosopher, economist, jurist, and royal advisor. He is traditionally identified as Kauṭilya or Vishnugupta, who authored the ancient Indian political treatise, the Arthashastra, a text on statecraft and economics. He is considered the pioneer of political science and economics in India, and his work is thought of as an important precursor to classical economics. He also played a prominent role in the foundation of the Maurya Empire, by assisting the first Mauryan emperor Chandragupta in his rise to power and serving as his chief advisor. He is also credited with devising various schemes and strategies to overthrow the Nanda dynasty, which ruled over most of northern India at that time. He is sometimes compared to Niccolò Machiavelli, Aristotle, and Plato for his political wisdom and knowledge of human nature.
Where was Chanakya born?
The exact place of Chanakya’s birth is not certain, as different sources give different accounts. According to the Jain writer Hemachandra, Chanakya was born in the Chanaka village of the Golla region, in South India. According to the Buddhist chronicles of Sri Lanka, he was born in Takshashila, a famous center of learning in north-western ancient India.
Who was Chanakya’s wife?
Chanakya’s wife was a Brahmin woman named Yashodhara, according to some sources. She was not very beautiful, but Chanakya married her for her inner qualities. He believed that a woman who is beautiful from the soul can keep a man happy for a lifetime.
Must Read :
- Narsinh Mehta Biography
- Mahatma Gandhi biography
- Parithviraj Chauhan Biography
- Chhatrapati shivaji maharaj Biography
I hope you liked our article on ‘Chanakya Biography, Life Story, History & Quotes’ very much. We have put so many such articles on our blog. If you found this article really useful, don’t forget to share it with your friends. Your one comment, like and share gives us the motivation to publish new information.