MAHARAJA BRIHADRATH MAURYA: THE BRAVE & BENEVOLENT KING HIS TUSSLE WITH PUSHYAMITRA SHUNGA.

Samrat Brihadratha Maurya of Magadha was a Buddhist king who ascended the throne of the Maurya dynasty in 187 BC. Like his ancestor Samrat Ahsok, he was brave as well as religious. Even though he followed Buddhism he was tolerant towards other faiths. He faced the rebellions of provincial governors & kept intact the Mauryan empire during difficult times. During his time prosperity & piece prevailed in Magadha. Buddhism became the popular religion in India. Mauryan rulers were Shudras & this period was considered as golden period in the history of India.

As Buddhism flourishes across the subcontinent and the Mauryan realm enjoys stability, but powerful forces within the royal court begin plotting against the emperor.

The story of the novel revolves around the conspiracy against Brihadrath Maurya & the subsequent events that followed the conspiracy. History is always told in a version of victors who ruled the country. But this fiction book is written from the point of indigenous people who are known in the history as Asuras, Rakshasas, Nagas, Dasas & Dravidas at different times of history.

The five ministers in the court of Brihadrath under the leadership of Rajpurohit Vishnugupta hatch a conspiracy after conspiracy to kill Brihadrath. They take help of Pushyamitra Shunga, a warrior from Saket. The courtiers induct Pushyamitra Shunga as a Senapati of Magadha. They used a Dasi, Lavanyavati in the conspiracy. Jarasangha, the son of Brihadrath from his earlier wife who is also a wrestler, falls in love with Lavanyavati. Their love story is narrated

Amatya Bhadrabahu & Senapati Ugrasen were on the side king Brihadrath who are obstacles in the path of courtiers.

In the later part of novel, the roles played by Agnimitra, the son & Vasumitra, the grandson of Pushyamitra are narrated. Their war with Yajnasena the king of Vidarbha is narrated.

Overall, it is a historical political thriller set in the final days of the Maurya Empire, exploring the conspiracy against the Buddhist emperor Brihadrath Maurya and the political and social forces surrounding his assassination.