MONASTIC CONNECTIONS AND IMPERIAL AUTHORITY: THE FUNCTION OF BUDDHIST SANGHAS IN MAURYAN ADMINISTRATIVE COHESION

Povzetek

Ashoka consolidated the Mauryan Empire by centralized authority and ethical administration, guaranteeing unity. Although research on Mauryan administration has predominantly concentrated on the Arthashastra, centralised bureaucracy, and Ashoka's advocacy of dhamma, but, the institutional function of Buddhist monasteries has been insufficiently examined. The Mauryan empire incorporated sanghas into its political system via land grants, gifts, and offerings, so ensuring their allegiance and cementing imperial power into daily life. Ashoka's conceptualisation of dhamma redefined Buddhist principles as a foundation for imperial legitimacy, presenting an image of equitable and compassionate governance.

However, the partnership was fraught with stress. Sanghas preserved autonomy, encountered internal divisions, and did not consistently align with official aims, underscoring the constraints of imperial integration. This study contends that sanghas were not only beneficiaries of royal patronage, but acted as proactive actors of state authority, serving as centres for interaction, financial administration, and ideological validation. Utilising epigraphic evidence from Ashokan edicts, archaeological information about monastic connections, and Buddhist textual practices, the study illustrates that monasteries were strategically positioned along trade routes and near administrative centres, facilitating their role as mediators among the state and the local population. This article repositions sanghas inside the political history of the Mauryas, reconceptualising ancient Indian state formation as an interdependent process between religious and political institutions, so contributing to wider discussions on the state-religion relationship in global history.