Question

Who was the founder of nanda dynasty?

Answer 1

Mahapadma Nanda was the founder of Nanda dynasty. This was the first non-Kshatriya dynasty. He usurped the throne of Kalasoka.

About Mahapadma Nanda

• He is known as the “first historical emperor of India.”
• He murdered Kalasoka to become the king and take up the throne.
• His origins were not clear. As per the Puranas, he was the son of the last Sisunaga king from a Sudra woman.
• As per some Jain texts and Greek writer Curtius, he was the son of a barber and a courtesan.
• His reign lasted for about twenty-eight years in between the years 367 BC and 338 BC.
• He is also called “Sarva Kashtriyantaka” (destroyer of all the kshatriyas) and “Ekrat”.
• The empire developed and grew under his reign.
• The empire expanded from the Kuru country in the north to the Godavari Valley in the south and from Magadha in the east to Narmada on the west.
• He conquered several kingdoms including Kalinga.