Megasthenes

Megasthenes was a Greek ethnographer and explorer in the Hellenistic period. He wrote the work Indica which is now lost, but has been partially reconstructed through quotations in later Greek and Roman texts.

He visited India as an ambassador of Seleucus I Nicator around 302 BCE to the court of Chandragupta Maurya in Pataliputra (modern Patna). His observations about Indian society, religion, and administration are among the earliest foreign accounts of the subcontinent.

Megasthenes described seven castes rather than four, and noted the existence of forest philosophers (likely referring to Jain and Buddhist ascetics). He was struck by the absence of slavery in Indian society and the practice of agriculture by all classes.

His account of Indian religion mentions worship of deities resembling Shiva and Krishna, though filtered through Greek interpretatio. The reliability of his account is debated, as some elements appear exaggerated or misunderstood.

[BEGINNER] Megasthenes was a Greek traveler who visited India over 2,300 years ago. He wrote about Indian gods, the caste system, and how people lived.

[INTERMEDIATE] As Seleucid ambassador to the Mauryan court, Megasthenes provided the earliest detailed foreign description of Indian religion and society. His work survives only in fragments quoted by later authors.

[SCHOLAR] The Indica fragments require careful source criticism. Megasthenes likely relied on interpreters and may have conflated different religious traditions. His description of Indian castes as seven hereditary occupational groups differs from the classical varna system.

Core Observations

• Seven-fold caste system based on occupation
• Worship of Shiva-like and Krishna-like deities
• Forest ascetics practicing severe austerities
• Absence of slavery
• Advanced urban administration at Pataliputra

Known Limitations

• Original text is lost; only fragments survive
• May have conflated different religious traditions
• Some descriptions appear idealized or exaggerated