Durdhara

Durdhara

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Category: Royal

Durdhara Profile

  • Name:
  • Durdhara
  • Profession / Known For:
  • Queen
  • Spouse:
  • Chandragupta Maurya

Durdhara Biography

Durdhara was the consort of Emperor Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Maurya Empire and the mother of Bindusara who succeeded Emperor Chandragupta Maurya. Short lived, she died of poisoning and was a victim of an unfortunate accident. According to certain texts, she is the daughter of Dhana Nanda, the last ruler of the Nanda dynasty. But as per Greek texts, historians argue that she is not an Indian, but the daughter of Selucus, with whom Chandragupta Maurya has made a peace treaty to end a war and begin a new season of trade and friendship between two countries.   

 

In the Jain literature it’s referred that she fell in love with Chandragupta Maurya at first sight and she was saved from a prince of corrupt intensions. After marriage, she has helped him in establishing tie with various small kingdoms to fight collectively against Alexander’s officers and could succeed as well. Magasthenes was sent to the kingdom of Patna, also known by the name Padaliputra to record the details of Maurya Empire. In his recordings he has mentioned about a Macadonian princess called Diodora. Historians argue that it’s Durdhara, who according to Greek pronunciation is Diodara, daughter of Selucus.

 

Durdhara gave birth to two sons. First son died three days after birth and she got pregnant for the second time. According to Jain texts, Durdhara died of an unfortunate incident. According to legends, Chanakya used to feed Chandragupta Maurya small amount of poison to increase his immunity, to avoid the threat of being killed by poisoning by enemies, without his knowledge. Without knowing this matter, once Maurya gave his food to his consort who was pregnant by 9 months and she collapsed very soon due to poisoning. At the moment Chanakya reached there, cut the queen’s womb and took the kid who was only 7 days away from birth. By that time poison had already reached his forehead giving a blue mark on his forehead. Thus he was given the name, Bindusara.

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Updated: September 24, 2017

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