OriginBirthChanakya was born in a Brahmin family.[8] Chanakya's birthplace is a matter of controversy, and there are multiple theories about his origin.[1] According to the Buddhist text Mahavamsa Tika, his birthplace was Taxila.[9] The Jain scriptures, such as Adbidhana Chintamani, mention him as a Dramila, implying that he was a native of South India.[9][10] According to the Jain writer Hemachandra's Pariiaparva, Chanakya was born in the Canaka village of the Golla region, to a Brahmin named Canin and his wife Canesvari.[11] Other sources mention his father's name as Chanak and state that Chanakya's name derives from his father's name.[12] According to some sources, Chanakya was a brahmin from North India, scholar in Vedas,[13] and a devotee of Vishnu.[14] According to Jain accounts he became Jain in old age like Chandragupta Maurya.[15][16][17]Sources of informationThere is little purely historical information about Chanakya: most of it comes from semi-legendary accounts. Thomas Trautmann identifies four distinct accounts of the ancient Chanakya-Chandragupta katha (legend):[18]Version of the legendExample texts

Buddhist versionMahavamsa and its commentary Vamsatthappakasini (Pali language)

Jain versionParisistaparvan by Hemachandra

Kashmiri versionKathasaritsagara by Somadeva, Brihat-Katha-Manjari by Ksemendra

Vishakhadatta's versionMudrarakshasa, a Sanskrit play by Vishakhadatta

The following elements are common to these legends: The King Dhana Nanda insults Chanakya, prompting Chanakya to swear revenge and destroy the Nanda Empire Chanakya searches for one worthy successor to the Nanda and finds the young Chandragupta Maurya With the help of some allies, Chanakya and Chandragupta bring down the Nanda empire, often using manipulative and secretive means