Ashoka
Ashoka
Ashoka
Ashoka
Ashoka
Ashoka
Ashoka
Ashoka
Ashoka
Ashoka was the grandson of Chandragupta Maurya who founded the Mauryan dynasty. His father was Bindusara (Vindusar), who was widely considered to be a good ruler of the kingdom. His mother was Empress Subhadrangī, a Hindu Brahmin. He had several half-brothers and sisters from his father’s other wife.
Although Ashoka’s name appears in the Puranas (encyclopedic literature of India dealing with kings, heroes, legends, and gods), no information on his life is given there. The details of his youth, rise to power, and renunciation of violence following the Kalinga campaign come from Buddhist sources which are considered, in many respects, more legendary than historical.
He was highly educated at court, trained in martial arts, and was no doubt instructed in the precepts of the Artashastra - even if he was not considered a candidate for the throne - simply as one of the royal sons. The Artashastra is a treatise covering many different subjects related to society but, primarily, is a manual on political science providing instruction on how to rule effectively. It is attributed to Chanakya, Chandragupta’s prime minister, who chose and trained Chandragupta to become king. When Chandragupta abdicated in favor of Bindusara, the latter is said to have been trained in the Arthashastra and so, almost certainly, would have been his sons.
When Ashoka was around the age of 18, he was sent from the capital city of Pataliputra to Takshashila (Taxila) to put down a revolt. According to one legend, Bindusara provided his son with an army but no weapons; the weapons were provided later by supernatural means. This same legend claims that Ashoka was merciful to the people who lay down their arms upon his arrival. No historical account survives of Ashoka’s campaign at Taxila; it is accepted as historical fact based on suggestions from inscriptions and place names but the details are unknown.
On the death of his father, there was a power struggle for the throne. Stories from the time, suggest Ashoka killed his siblings and the legitimate heir to the throne in his remorseless quest for power. He was crowned king in 269 BCE, four years after his succession to power, suggesting a prolonged power struggle.
After ascending to the throne, Ashoka extended the borders of his Empire, taking Assam in the East and Iran in the West. His realm extended over much of the Indian sub-continent, except Tamil areas in the very south and in (modern-day) Sri Lanka.
Kalinga (modern-day Odisha and Andhra) was a province on the east coast of India. It had a strong Buddhist following and was ruled by a monarchy and parliamentary democracy - which was unusually democratic for the time. However, with Ashoka’s great military strength, he succeeded in conquering and defeating this province. It is said up to 100,000 soldiers were killed, and more deported. On entering the city, Ashoka was moved by the extent of the destruction and suffering he had caused.
As Ashoka became a devout Buddhist, his reign changed dramatically. He gave up the wars of conquest but sought to provide better public services (hospitals and schools) for his citizens. He traveled extensively throughout India and Ceylon building many temples and statues to the Buddha. He had inscribed in many places "Ahingsha parama dharma, Non-violence is the greatest virtue."
Ashoka also had many edicts and teachings inscribed in pillars and rocks. For example, Ashoka’s Major Rock Edict at Junagadh. This gives a lot of information about his reign, which might otherwise have slipped out of knowledge.
After his death, the Mauryan empire only lasted another 50 years, but Ashoka became remembered as one of the most exemplary rulers in history. He also helped to propagate Buddhism amongst the Indian sub-continent, especially in Sri Lanka.
Emperor Ashoka is widely regarded as one of the greatest rulers of India. He is best known for his renunciation of war, development of the concept of dhamma (pious social conduct), and promotion of Buddhism as well as his effective reign of a nearly pan-Indian political entity. At its height, under Ashoka, the Mauryan Empire stretched from modern-day Iran through almost the entirety of the Indian subcontinent.
The lethal war with Kalinga transformed the vengeful Emperor Ashoka into a stable and peaceful emperor, and he became a patron of Buddhism. According to the prominent Indologist, A. L. Basham, Ashoka's personal religion became Buddhism, if not before, then certainly after the Kalinga War.
One legend tells how Ashoka was walking around the vanquished city when he heard a Buddhist monk softly chanting a Buddhist mantra "Buddham saranam gacchami, I take refuge in Lord Buddha."
On hearing this, Ashoka was deeply moved and he spoke to the Buddhist monk Upagupta, saying he wished to learn more. After this incident, Ashoka began his conversion to Buddhism. He sought to relinquish his bloodthirsty past, but live according to the Buddhist principles of compassion and non-violence.
An important political development of Ashoka was that he sought to legitimize the rule of a king, not through a divine right, but through adherence to Buddhist scriptures and the Buddhist community. In many Southeast Asian countries, it became common for the king to rule in association with the Buddhist religious community.
Ashoka’s response to warfare and the tragedy of Kalinga was the inspiration for the formulation of the concept of dhamma. Dhamma derives from the concept, originally set down by Hinduism, of dharma (duty) which is one’s responsibility or purpose in life but, more directly, from Buddha's use of dharma as cosmic law and that which should be heeded. Ashoka’s dhamma includes this understanding but expands it to mean general goodwill and beneficence to all as "right behavior" which promotes peace and understanding. Keay notes that the concept is equated with "mercy, charity, truthfulness, and purity." It is also understood to mean "good conduct" or "decent behavior."
He also issued edicts against Vedic animal sacrifices and supported the welfare of animals. This included the banning of hunting and the slaughter of common cattle. Ashoka also emphasized the importance of religious tolerance and respect for other religions and teachers. Although Ashoka was a Buddhist he was on friendly terms with other religious groups, especially Hindu monks, and may have incorporated aspects of Hinduism into his worldview.
Quotations:
"No society can prosper if it aims at making things easier-instead it should aim at making people stronger."
"Let all listen, and be willing to listen to the doctrines professed by others."
"It is forbidden to decry other sects; the true believer gives honor to whatever in them is worthy of honor."
"When an unconquered country is conquered, people are killed. ... That the beloved of the Gods finds very pitiful and grievous. ... If anyone does him wrong, it will be forgiven as far as it can be forgiven... . The beloved of the Gods considers that the greatest of all victories is the victory of righteousness."
"He who does reverence to his own sect, while disparaging the sects of others with the intent to enhance the glory of his own sect, by such conduct inflicts the severest injury on his own sect."
"May the partisans of all doctrines in all countries unite and live in a common fellowship. For all alike profess mastery to be attained over oneself and purity of the heart."
Ashoka was a fierce fighter and hunter, with great military prowess.
Ashoka created the "Ashoka Chakra" - the wheel of righteousness or wheel of dharma; this was accepted as the national symbol of India and features on her flag since independence in August 1947.
Physical Characteristics: Compared to his siblings, Ashoka was considered ugly, and when young he resented their comparable popularity.
Quotes from others about the person
The British historian H.G. Wells has written: "Amidst the tens of thousands of names of monarchs that crowd the columns of history ... the name of Asoka shines, and shines almost alone, a star."
Emperor Ashoka had many wives and children. His first wife was Vidisha Mahadevi Shakyakumari Asandhimitra. She bore him twins - Mahindra and Sanghamitra. Ashoka entrusted these two to spread Buddhism in Sri Lanka, where they proved successful.
She was the second wife of Ashoka.
Tishyaraksha was the last wife of Ashoka, they married four years before his death.
Padmavati was a queen of the Mauryan Emperor, Ashoka.
Vidisha Mahadevi Shakyakumari Asandhimitra was Ashoka's first wife.