Nanda Dynasty

The Nanda dynasty was a formidable power in Magadha prior to the Mauryas. It came to power by supplanting the Saisunaga dynasty. Mahapadma Nanda established the Nanda Dynasty around 1616 BCE(345 BCE clarification needed). He was illegitimate son of Mahanandin. His mother was Shudra. Mahapadma Nanda was the first Non Kshatriya ruler of Magadha as he born to Shudra mother. So many objections were raised when he was crowned for throne.  But he managed to take the throne. He killed most of the Kshatriyas who were nominated as the king for Magadha.

Mahapadma Nada was mightiest ruler. Like Parasurama he annihiliated all the Kshatriyas of his time and became the most powerful of all the kings of Aryavartha. Under his rule Nanda Empire was extended from Punjab in the west to Bengal in the east and Vindhya mountains in the south and all most all regions of north were ruled by him. The capital city of Nanda Empire was Pataliputra.

The major religion during Nandas rule was Jainism. Hindhuism and Buddhism were also encouraged. Nanda rulers started many taxation reforms. Agriculture was developed by introducing several irrigational projects.

Invasion of Alexander

Some texts depict that Alexander, the great attacked India during the rule of Dhanananda. Dhanananda is specified as Xandrames or Aggrammes or Ganderites in the Greek recorded writings. These writings say that intersection the Beas was the last station of Alexander's armed force which was demanded by Alexander to cross Ganga also. Be that as it may, by hearing that Dhanananda was sitting tight for them with 200, 000 armed force. They were terrified and revoltedand, thus Alexander's armed force turned back.

Rulers of Nanda Dynasty

After Mahapadma Nanda his eight children separated the entire empire among them and controlled at the same time for a long time from various centers. He and his eight sons were known as “Navanandas”. The rulers of Nanda dynasty after Mahapadma Nada were

    Ø Panduka

    Ø Pandugati

    Ø Bhutapala

    Ø Rashtrapala

    Ø Govishanaka

    Ø Dashasiddaka

    Ø Kaivartha

The last ruler of Nanda Dynasty was Dhanananda. He was cruel ruler and he used to maintain large number of armed forces. As per the Greek essayists the armed force of the Nandas comprised of 20,00,000 infantry, 20,000 mounted force, 2,000 four-horsed charioteers and 30,000 elephants. From the Buddhist writings we come to realize that the Nandas were exceptionally partial to riches and had become very unpopular because of their heavy taxes and undue exaction from the public.

At about 1516 BCE, Chandragupta Maurya overthrow Dhanananda and established the Mauryan Empire. Thus the Nanda dynasty was replaced by the Maurya dynasty.