The Mauryans

The first Mauryan became a Jain,
the second a materialist,
the third a Buddhist, of that royal line.
Each of them a rationalist,

sceptical of what we call religion
in the West. Indian rulers may choose
a metaphysical position,
patronage that is raison d’etat’s ruse

of umpiring the sects. Roman Caesars
would veer between Mithras, Plotinus, Christ.
Watch out for Borges’ brain-teaser
of the nine coins on a road diced

out over days, all reappearing later.
Changing their punch, Mauryans struck staters.

Woodford Halse - 2 May 2026

I refer to the Indian emperors, Chandragupya Maurya ( c 320 - 298 BCE, Bindusara ( c 297 - 273 BCE), and Asoka ( c 268 -232 BCE).

We have to be careful with Indian sources. I have some experience with Graeco-Roman historiography, but the sources for South Asian history can be smoke and mirrors, and when they are definite, the effect is like Jorge Kuis Borges’ famous essay or short story, Tlon, Uqbar, Tertius Orbis.

Staters were a Greek silver coin. The Mauryans struck silver pieces of six of these.

I do not write enough about India and South Asia. Jain Epics and my Mohammad Iqbal poems are my offerings to date. I studied Sanskrit when I was a teenager. My natural father studied Sanskrit as well unbeknownst to me. I would need to be established as a poet to make the effort.

What’s the problem ? simple - Shiva. There is no source of poetics for a European, or Chinese I suggest, let alone a Muslim or a Jew, more challenging. In Shiva, there is no Apollo v Dionysus.