Ashoka Maurya, popularly known as Ashoka the Great, was one of India’s greatest emperor of the Maurya Dynasty who ruled almost the entire Indian subcontinent from circa 269 BCE to 232 BCE. His realm stretched from from the Hindu Kush mountains in the west to Bengal in the East and covered the entire Indian subcontinent except parts of present day Tamil Nadu and Kerala. His capital was Pataliputra (in Magadha, present-day Bihar), with provincial capitals at Taxila and Ujjain.
What’s in a name? Ashoka is referred to as Samraat Chakravartin Ashoka – the "Emperor of Emperors Ashoka." His name "Aśoka" means "painless, without sorrow" in Sanskrit.
Birth: Ashoka was grandson of Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of Maurya dynasty. He was born to Bindusara and his wife Subhadrangī. Though he had many siblings – half brothers from other wives of Bindusara, he displayed amazing fighting qualities from an early age and was so given military training. He was fearless and is believed to have killed a lion with just a wooden rod.
Maurya Empire under Ashoka: After Bindusara's death in 273 BCE, there was a war over succession between his sons. Bindusara wanted his son Sushim to succeed him but Ashoka was more popular with his father's ministers, who found Sushim arrogant and disrespectful. Ashoka took over the reins of the Mauryan Empire. He expanded his empire for the next eight years, from the present-day boundaries Assam in the East to Iran in the West; from the Pamir Knot in the north to the peninsula of southern India except for present day Tamil Nadu and Kerala which were ruled by the three ancient Tamil kingdoms.
War of Kalinga: In 260 BCE, Ashoka conquered Kalinga (present day odisha), which none of his ancestors had done. But, that was the changing point in his life. Seeing the mass deaths (100,000-150,000) of the Kalinga War, he went into a phase of remorse and gradually converted to Buddhism, beginning 263 BCE. He dedicated his life to the propagation of Buddhism across Asia and was instrumental in establishing many Buddhist monasteries.
Ashoka’s model of relationship between Buddhism and state: Throughout Theravada Southeastern Asia, the model of leadership embodied by Ashoka replaced the notion of divine kingship that had previously dominated. Under this model of 'Buddhist kingship', the king sought to legitimise his rule not through descent from a divine source, but by supporting and earning the approval of the Buddhist sangha. This development ultimately lead to a close association in many Southeast Asian countries between the monarchy and the religious hierarchy, an association that can still be seen today in the state-supported Buddhism of Thailand and the traditional role of the Thai king as both a religious and secular leader.
Edicts of Ashoka: The Edicts of Ashoka are a collection of 33 inscriptions on the Pillars of Ashoka, as well as boulders and cave walls. These inscriptions are dispersed throughout modern-day Pakistan and India, and represent the first tangible evidence of Buddhism. The edicts describe in detail the first wide expansion of Buddhism through the sponsorship of one of the most powerful kings of Indian history, offering more information about Ashoka's proselytism, moral precepts, religious precepts, and his notions of social and animal welfare.
Ashoka’s inscriptions: Ashoka's Major Rock Edict at Junagadh contains inscriptions by Ashoka (fourteen of the Edicts of Ashoka), Rudradamanna I and Skandagupta.
Death: After ruling for almost four decades, Ashoka died and it is believed that during his cremation, his body burned for seven days and nights. After his death, the Mauryan dynasty lasted just fifty more years until his empire stretched over almost all of the Indian subcontinent Ashoka Pillar: The Ashoka Pillar at Sarnath is the most notable of the relics left by Ashoka. Made of sandstone, this pillar records the visit of the emperor to Sarnath, in the 3rd century BCE. It has a four-lion capital (four lions standing back to back) which was adopted as the emblem of the modern Indian republic. The lion symbolises both Ashoka's imperial rule and the kingship of the Buddha. Other important monuments: Ashoka developed viharas (intellectual hubs) such as Nalanda and Taxila, and helped to construct Sanchi and Mahabodhi Temple.
Ashoka as an able administrator: Ashoka's military power was strong, but after his conversion to Buddhism, he maintained friendly relations with three major Tamil kingdoms in the South namely Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas, the post Alexandrian empire, Tamraparni, and Suvarnabhumi. His edicts state that he made provisions for medical treatment of humans and animals in his own kingdom as well as in these neighbouring states. He also had wells dug and trees planted along the roads for the benefit of the common people. Ashoka banned the slaughter and eating of the common cattle, and also imposed restrictions on fishing and fish-eating. He also abolished the royal hunting of animals and restricted the slaying of animals for food in the royal residence.
Ashoka Chakra: The Ashoka Chakra, "the wheel of Righteousness" (Dharma in Sanskrit or Dhamma in Pali)" has 24 spokes which represent the 12 Laws of Dependent Origination and the 12 Laws of Dependent Termination. The Ashoka Chakra has been widely inscribed on many relics of the Mauryan Emperor, most prominent among which is the Lion Capital of Sarnath and The Ashoka Pillar. The most visible use of the Ashoka Chakra today is at the centre of the National flag of the Republic of India (adopted on 22 July 1947), where it is rendered in a Navy-blue colour on a white background, by replacing the symbol of Charkha (Spinning wheel) of the pre-independence versions of the flag. The Ashoka Chakra can also been seen on the base of Lion Capital of Ashoka which has been adopted as the National Emblem of India.
What’s in a name? Ashoka is referred to as Samraat Chakravartin Ashoka – the "Emperor of Emperors Ashoka." His name "Aśoka" means "painless, without sorrow" in Sanskrit.
Birth: Ashoka was grandson of Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of Maurya dynasty. He was born to Bindusara and his wife Subhadrangī. Though he had many siblings – half brothers from other wives of Bindusara, he displayed amazing fighting qualities from an early age and was so given military training. He was fearless and is believed to have killed a lion with just a wooden rod.
Maurya Empire under Ashoka: After Bindusara's death in 273 BCE, there was a war over succession between his sons. Bindusara wanted his son Sushim to succeed him but Ashoka was more popular with his father's ministers, who found Sushim arrogant and disrespectful. Ashoka took over the reins of the Mauryan Empire. He expanded his empire for the next eight years, from the present-day boundaries Assam in the East to Iran in the West; from the Pamir Knot in the north to the peninsula of southern India except for present day Tamil Nadu and Kerala which were ruled by the three ancient Tamil kingdoms.
War of Kalinga: In 260 BCE, Ashoka conquered Kalinga (present day odisha), which none of his ancestors had done. But, that was the changing point in his life. Seeing the mass deaths (100,000-150,000) of the Kalinga War, he went into a phase of remorse and gradually converted to Buddhism, beginning 263 BCE. He dedicated his life to the propagation of Buddhism across Asia and was instrumental in establishing many Buddhist monasteries.
Ashoka’s model of relationship between Buddhism and state: Throughout Theravada Southeastern Asia, the model of leadership embodied by Ashoka replaced the notion of divine kingship that had previously dominated. Under this model of 'Buddhist kingship', the king sought to legitimise his rule not through descent from a divine source, but by supporting and earning the approval of the Buddhist sangha. This development ultimately lead to a close association in many Southeast Asian countries between the monarchy and the religious hierarchy, an association that can still be seen today in the state-supported Buddhism of Thailand and the traditional role of the Thai king as both a religious and secular leader.
Edicts of Ashoka: The Edicts of Ashoka are a collection of 33 inscriptions on the Pillars of Ashoka, as well as boulders and cave walls. These inscriptions are dispersed throughout modern-day Pakistan and India, and represent the first tangible evidence of Buddhism. The edicts describe in detail the first wide expansion of Buddhism through the sponsorship of one of the most powerful kings of Indian history, offering more information about Ashoka's proselytism, moral precepts, religious precepts, and his notions of social and animal welfare.
Ashoka’s inscriptions: Ashoka's Major Rock Edict at Junagadh contains inscriptions by Ashoka (fourteen of the Edicts of Ashoka), Rudradamanna I and Skandagupta.
Death: After ruling for almost four decades, Ashoka died and it is believed that during his cremation, his body burned for seven days and nights. After his death, the Mauryan dynasty lasted just fifty more years until his empire stretched over almost all of the Indian subcontinent Ashoka Pillar: The Ashoka Pillar at Sarnath is the most notable of the relics left by Ashoka. Made of sandstone, this pillar records the visit of the emperor to Sarnath, in the 3rd century BCE. It has a four-lion capital (four lions standing back to back) which was adopted as the emblem of the modern Indian republic. The lion symbolises both Ashoka's imperial rule and the kingship of the Buddha. Other important monuments: Ashoka developed viharas (intellectual hubs) such as Nalanda and Taxila, and helped to construct Sanchi and Mahabodhi Temple.
Ashoka as an able administrator: Ashoka's military power was strong, but after his conversion to Buddhism, he maintained friendly relations with three major Tamil kingdoms in the South namely Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas, the post Alexandrian empire, Tamraparni, and Suvarnabhumi. His edicts state that he made provisions for medical treatment of humans and animals in his own kingdom as well as in these neighbouring states. He also had wells dug and trees planted along the roads for the benefit of the common people. Ashoka banned the slaughter and eating of the common cattle, and also imposed restrictions on fishing and fish-eating. He also abolished the royal hunting of animals and restricted the slaying of animals for food in the royal residence.
Ashoka Chakra: The Ashoka Chakra, "the wheel of Righteousness" (Dharma in Sanskrit or Dhamma in Pali)" has 24 spokes which represent the 12 Laws of Dependent Origination and the 12 Laws of Dependent Termination. The Ashoka Chakra has been widely inscribed on many relics of the Mauryan Emperor, most prominent among which is the Lion Capital of Sarnath and The Ashoka Pillar. The most visible use of the Ashoka Chakra today is at the centre of the National flag of the Republic of India (adopted on 22 July 1947), where it is rendered in a Navy-blue colour on a white background, by replacing the symbol of Charkha (Spinning wheel) of the pre-independence versions of the flag. The Ashoka Chakra can also been seen on the base of Lion Capital of Ashoka which has been adopted as the National Emblem of India.
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