Chānakya (Sanskrit: चाणक्य Cāṇakya) (c. 370–283 BCE) was a teacher to the first Maurya Emperor Chandragupta (c. 340–293 BCE), and the first Indian emperor generally considered to be the architect of his rise to power. Traditionally, Chanakya is also identified by the names Kautilya and Vishnugupta Mishra, who authored the ancient Indian political treatise called Arthaśāstra. Chanakya has been considered as the pioneer of the field of economics and political science. In the Western world, he has been referred to as The Indian Machiavelli, although Chanakya's works predate Machiavelli's by about 1,800 years. But, Chanakya was far intelligent and a genius. It is authentic to call Machiavelli as Italian Chanakya rather. Chanakya was a teacher in Takṣaśila, an ancient centre of learning, and was responsible for the creation of Mauryan empire, the first of its kind on the Indian subcontinent. His works were lost near the end of the Gupta dynasty and not rediscovered until 1915.

Identity

In brief: Chanakya was one of the most intelligent and genius. It was he, who brought a common man's boy, Chandraguptha and sculptured him as the finest and first emperor of India.

His actual name was Vishnuguptha, as named by his father, Chanak. Chanak was a stalwart in Vedic culture and medicine as side works apart from his astrology. The Chanaks belong to Iyers; a superior class of community of the then India, who worship the lord Shiva. Iyers are the sub-divisions of Brahmins, the top class groups. But, Chanak, in personal, worshipped lord Vishnu. In paying respect to the deity, Chanak named his son Vishnuguptha, the servant of lord Vishnu.

Legend,Death,Media,Legacy

Legend

Thomas R. Trautmann lists the following elements as common to different forms of the Chanakya legend:

• Chanakya was born with a complete set of teeth, a sign that he would become king, which is inappropriate for a Brahmin like Chanakya. Chāṇakya's teeth were therefore broken and it was prophesied that he will rule through another.
• The Nanda King throws Chānakya out of his court, prompting Chānakya to swear revenge.

Chanakya Episodes

Chanakya: Episode 1
Chanakya: Episode 2
Chanakya: Episode 3
Chanakya: Episode 4
Chanakya: Episode 5
Chanakya: Episode 6