Chanakya

[prasad1]

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Chanakya (c. 370–283 BCE)[2] was an Indian teacher, philosopher and royal advisor.
Originally a professor of economics and political science at the ancient Takshashila University, Chanakya managed the first Maurya emperor Chandragupta's rise to power at a young age. He is widely credited for having played an important role in the establishment of the Maurya Empire, which was the first empire in archaeologically recorded history to rule most of the Indian subcontinent. Chanakya served as the chief advisor to both Chandragupta and his son Bindusara.
Chanakya is traditionally identified as Kautilya or Vishnu Gupta, who authored the ancient Indian political treatise called Arthaśāstra. As such, he is considered as the pioneer of the field of economics and political science in India, and his work is thought of as an important precursor to Classical Economics. Chanakya is often called the "Indian Machiavelli",[8] although his works predate Machiavelli's by about 1,800 years.[9] His works were lost near the end of the Gupta dynasty and not rediscovered until 1915.

Was he Hindu? Or Jain?
He is shown in TV and films as Shiva Bhakta with Vibhuti on his forehead, is that true depiction?

 

[renuka]

He could be a Shiva Bhakta for all we know.

I have noted that Shiva Bhaktas of the past have been known for extreme skill in language/grammar and Chanakya himself was an expert in language.

Panini the great grammarian had his Maheswara Sutrani from Lord Shiva himself.
Based on the 14 Sutranis(revealed to Panini by Lord Shiva during the cosmic dance where He sounded His damaruka 14 times) Panini composed the Ashtadyayi.

Thanks to Lord Shiva we have a standardized form of Sanskrit.

Later on sage Patanjali (an incarnation of Adi Sesha) wrote a commentary on the works of Panini.

Another famous Shiva Bhaktha is Ravana whose composition Shiva Tandava Stotram remains a poetic master piece.

Most Shiva Bhaktas of yesteryears were blessed with a quick thinking mind and poetic excellence and acute intelligence.

So going by that..Chanakya could have been a Shiva Bhakta.

 

[sarang]

Chanakya Niti
SRI CHANAKYA NITI-SASTRA
THE POLITICAL ETHICS OF CHANAKYA PANDIT

CHAPTER ONE
1. Humbly bowing down before the almighty Lord Sri Vishnu, the Lord of the three worlds, I recite maxims of the science of political ethics (niti) selected from the various satras (scriptures).

प्रणम्य शिरसा विष्णुं त्रैलोक्याधिपतिं प्रभुम् |
नानाशास्त्रोद्धृतं वक्ष्ये राजनीतिसमुच्चयम् ||

 

[renuka]

Read this:

Dr. R. Shamashastry, the translator of the English version of Kautilya's Artha-Sastra, quotes a prediction from the Vishnu Purana fourth canto, twenty-fourth chapter, regarding the appearance of Chanakya Pandit. This prediction, incidentally, was scribed fifty centuries ago, nearly 2700 years before this political heavyweight and man of destiny was to appear. The prediction informs us: "(First) Mahapadma then his sons - only nine in number - will be the lords of the earth for a hundred years. A brahmananamed Kautilya will slay these Nandas. On their death, the Mauryas will enjoy the earth. Kautilya himself will install Chandragupta on the throne. His son will be Bindusara and his son will be Ashokavardhana." Similar prophecies are also repeated in the Bhagavata, Vayu and Matsya Puranas.

SRI CHANAKYA NITI-SASTRA