Ashoka
Ashoka, sometimes Ashoka the Great, was an Indian emperor of the Maurya Dynasty, who ruled almost all of the Indian subcontinent from c. 268 to 232 BCE. The grandson of the founder of the Maurya Dynasty, Chandragupta Maurya, Ashoka promoted the spread of Buddhism across ancient Asia. Considered by many to be one of India's greatest emperors, Ashoka expanded Chandragupta's empire …
Why was Asoka such a great ruler?
Ashoka behaved as a great ruler because he had a kind heart. He was concerned with how the people are treating each other when he listed examples of good characteristics. When he wrote “for all beings the Beloved…desires security, self-control, calm of mind, and gentleness (Edicts of Ashoka, MyHistoryLab, p.127),” he meant for his people ...
Why was Asoka considered a great leader?
Ashoka was called as Ashoka the great due to the following reasons: His actions in the administration and management of State reflect piety. Love, magnanimity, high moral discipline and ethical conduct in his personal as well as public life. Subsequently, question is, what was special about Ashoka as a ruler?
Why is Ashoka called a great king?
- Chandragupta – (322-297B.C.E.)
- Bindusara – (297-272/268B.C.E.)
- Ashoka – (272/268-232B.C.E.)
- Dasharatha – (232-224B.C.E.)
- Samprati – (224-215B.C.E.)
- Shalishuka – (215-202B.C.E.)
- Devavarman – (202-195B.C.E.)
- Shatadhanvan – (195-187B.C.E.)
- Bihadratha – (187-180B.C.E.)
Why was Ashoka the most famous ruler?
Solved Question for You
- He was the first ruler who tried to spread his message through inscriptions to the people.
- Ashoka is the only king in the world’s history who gave up the conquest even after winning a war.
- He started to follow a religious policy of his own after the violence and bloodshed held in Kalinga war and formulated various policies of Dhamma.
Why was Ashoka never called the Great?
Ashoka was never called Ashoka the great simply because ‘’XYZ the great’’ is a western title/ european title and never applied to the Indian Kings.
Who is the great Ashoka?
It is none other than Ashoka who is best remembered in history as “Ashoka, the Great” or “The Great Ashoka”. Born as the grandson of Chandragupta Maurya and son of Bindusara, he expanded the Mauryan empire from present-day Afghanistan to present-day Bangladesh.
Why is Ashoka important?
The importance of Ashoka in history lies because of many reasons: 1 The trend set by Chandragupta Maurya and Bindusara, Ashoka continued the mission of unifying the Indian subcontinent. During his reign, the Mauryan Empire stretched far beyond the present day India in the northeast, north and northwest. In the south, he moved his territories to touch the present day Tamilnadu. Never before or after that India could stretch over a vast space of land. 2 Chandragupta Maurya and Bindusara
What was Ashoka's first major milestone?
The Battle of Kalinga was first major milestone of Ashoka as a Emperor. Except Kalinga (now modern-day Odissa) most parts of India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan were part of the Mauryan Empire. As an emperor, Ashoka had esteem desire to conquer Kalinga.
What is the Ashoka Chakra?
Today’s Indian flag has Ashoka Chakra or Dharma Chakra which stands on 24 principles of Gautam Buddha. In the light of such contributions to Indian culture and Dharmic history, Ashoka is widely considered as “Ashoka the Great”. ~MAK.
Why did Ashoka dedicate his life to the battle of Kalinga?
He decided to dedicate rest of his life to promote “Dharma” (Religion) and embraced Buddhism. All well-acclaimed historians agree Ashoka never took part in battles.
How long did it take Ashoka to become king?
Ashoka was a good administrator and at first set about restoring peace in his kingdom. This took about 3 years, after which he formally accepted the throne and was crowned King in 273 BC. During his reign, the country made progress in terms of science and technology as well as advanced in medicine and surgery.
What is Ashoka the Great's name?
Ashoka’s name has been etched in the annals of Indian history in golden letters. With its most honourable epithet, Ashoka the great is a well known name even to every child learning Indian History . The distinguishing achievements of Ashoka have made him duly deserve this title and it is highly interesting to know what this amazing emperor has done to glorify the Indian subcontinent. Talking of this incomparable personality, H.G.Wells says, “Amidst the tens of thousands of names of monarchs that crowds the columns of history…the name of Ashoka shines, and shines almost alone, a star.”
What was Ashoka called?
Ashoka was called by several titles including Devanampiya (beloved of the gods) and Piyadasi (one who loves all). Ashoka became a staunch Buddhist after witnessing the grave miseries that war can bring. After the Kalinga war, he declared no more wars and undertook to spread non-violence and dharma across the world with the help of his sons and daughters. He brought in some revolutionary changes in administration, social welfare works, architecture and state-craft. In each of these realms, his contributions are fondly remembered to this day.
How long did Ashoka rule?
Chandragupta Maurya and Bindusara ruled for 24 years and 25 years respectively, whereas Ashoka ruled the Mauryan Empire for about 40 years . He was a highly powerful monarch with a democratic temperament whom no one dared to challenge during his lifetime. During his reign, there was neither any attack by the external forces nor any internal strife anywhere in the vast empire. We can in fact say that Ashoka was the greatest ruler that India has ever seen.
Why is Ashoka the Great?
Ashoka was called as Ashoka the great because of the following reasons: His actions in the administration and management of State reflect piety, love, magnanimity, high moral discipline and ethical conduct in his personal as well as public life. He organized a system of government, efficient, ...
Why was Ashoka the Great called Ashoka the Great?
Ashoka was called as Ashoka the great because of the following reasons:#N#His actions in the administration and management of State reflect piety, love, magnanimity, high moral discipline and ethical conduct in his personal as well as public life. He organized a system of government, efficient, humane and responsive to public weal, unparalleled in human history.#N#The record of his administration chiseled on the rocks in the different parts of his empire, on the highways and hills, caves and public places enshrines the noblest sentiments of a man who loved his people like his own children, respected all sects and religious faiths and instilled confidence in the neighboring countries for peace and concord.
Who was Ashoka the Great?
187–180 BCE. v. t. e. Ashoka ( / əˈʃoʊkə /; Brāhmi: 𑀅𑀲𑁄𑀓, Asoka, IAST: Aśoka), also known as Ashoka the Great, was an Indian emperor of the Maurya Dynasty, who ruled almost all of the Indian subcontinent from c. 268 to 232 BCE.
Which empire was Ashoka?
Considered by many to be one of India's greatest emperors, Ashoka expanded Chandragupta's empire to reign over a realm stretching from present-day Afghanistan in the west to Bangladesh in the east. It covered the entire Indian subcontinent except for parts of present-day Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala.
What is Ashoka's biographical information?
Beyond the Edicts of Ashoka, biographical information about him relies on legends written centuries later, such as the 2nd-century CE Ashokavadana (" Narrative of Ashoka ", a part of the Divyavadana ), and in the Sri Lankan text Mahavamsa (" Great Chronicle ").
How long did Ashoka rule?
According to the Sri Lankan texts Mahavamsa and the Dipavamsa, Ashoka ascended the throne 218 years after the death of Gautama Buddha, and ruled for 37 years. The date of the Buddha's death is itself a matter of debate, and the North Indian tradition states that Ashoka ruled a hundred years after the Buddha's death, which has led to further debates about the date.
How does Ashoka help the Buddhist community?
The Sri Lankan tradition presents a greater role for Ashoka in the Buddhist community. In this tradition, Ashoka starts feeding monks on a large scale. His lavish patronage to the state patronage leads to many fake monks joining the sangha. The true Buddhist monks refuse to co-operate with these fake monks, and therefore, no uposatha ceremony is held for seven years. The king attempts to eradicate the fake monks, but during this attempt, an over-zealous minister ends up killing some real monks. The king then invites the elder monk Moggaliputta-Tissa, to help him expel non-Buddhists from the monastery founded by him at Pataliputra. 60,000 monks ( bhikkhus) convicted of being heretical are de-frocked in the ensuing process. The uposatha ceremony is then held, and Tissa subsequently organises the Third Buddhist council, during the 17th regnal year of Ashoka. Tissa compiles Kathavatthu, a text that reaffirms Theravadin orthodoxy on several points.
Why did Bindusara dislike Ashoka?
According to the Ashokavadana, Bindusara disliked Ashoka because of his rough skin. One day, Bindusara asked the ascetic Pingala-vatsajiva to determine which of his sons was being worthy of his successor. On the ascetic's advice, he asked all the princes to assemble at the Garden of the Golden Pavilion. Ashoka was reluctant to go because his father disliked him, but his mother convinced him to do so. When minister Radhagupta saw Ashoka leaving the capital for the Garden, he offered to provide the prince a royal elephant for the travel. At the Garden, Pingala-vatsajiva examined the princes and realised that Ashoka would be the next king. To avoid annoying Bindusara, the ascetic refused to name the successor. Instead, he said that one who had the best mount, seat, drink, vessel and food would be the next king; each time, Ashoka declared that he met the criterion. Later, he told Ashoka's mother that her son would be the next king, and on her advice, left the kingdom to avoid Bindusara's wrath.
Why did Ashoka burn 500 concubines?
After Ashoka woke up, he burnt 500 of his concubines to death as a punishment. Alarmed by the king's personal involvement in such massacres, the prime minister Radha-gupta proposed hiring an executioner to carry out future mass killings, so as to leave the king unsullied.
What does Ashoka mean?
Ashoka means “without sorrow” which was most likely his given name. He is referred to in his edicts, carved in stone, as Devanampiya Piyadassi which, according to scholar John Keay (and agreed upon by scholarly consensus) means “Beloved of the Gods” and “gracious of mien” (89).
How long did Ashoka reign?
Ashoka died after reigning for nearly 40 years. His reign had enlarged and strengthened the Mauryan Empire and yet it would not endure for even 50 years after his death. His name was eventually forgotten, his stupas became overgrown, and his edicts, carved on majestic pillars, toppled and buried by the sands.
What is Ashoka's dhamma?
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” (95). It is also understood to mean “good conduct” or “decent behavior”.
How many stupas did Ashoka build?
Ashoka had the relics removed and is said to have decreed the construction of 84,000 stupas throughout the country, each to have some part of the Buddha's remains inside. In this way, he thought, the Buddhist message of peace and harmonious existence between people and the natural world would be encouraged further.
Who was the king of the kingdom when Bindusara died?
Susima was still engaged in the campaign when Bindusara fell ill and ordered his eldest son's recall. The king's ministers, however, favored Ashoka as successor and so he was sent for and was crowned (or, according to some legends crowned himself) king upon Bindusara's death.
Who was the third king of the Mauryan Empire?
Ashoka the Great (r. 268-232 BCE) was the third king of the Mauryan Empire (322-185 BCE) 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. Ashoka was able to rule this vast empire initially through the precepts of the political treatise known as the Arthashastra, attributed to the Prime Minister Chanakya (also known as Kautilya and Vishnugupta, l. c. 350-275 BCE) who served under Ashoka's grandfather Chandragupta (r. c. 321-c.297 BCE) who founded the empire.
Was Ashoka merciful to the people who lay down their arms upon his arrival?
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. Remove Ads.
Overview
Kalinga war and conversion to Buddhism
Ashoka's inscriptions mention that he conquered the Kalinga region during his 8th regnal year: the destruction caused during the war made him repent violence, and in the subsequent years, he was drawn towards Buddhism. Edict 13 of the Edicts of Ashoka Rock Inscriptions expresses the great remorse the king felt after observing the destruction of Kalinga:
Sources of information
Information about Ashoka comes from his inscriptions; other inscriptions that mention him or are possibly from his reign; and ancient literature, especially Buddhist texts. These sources often contradict each other, although various historians have attempted to correlate their testimony. Plenty is known or not known. So, for example, while Ashoka is often attributed with building many ho…
Names and titles
The name "A-shoka" literally means "without sorrow". According to an Ashokavadana legend, his mother gave him this name because his birth removed her sorrows.
The name Priyadasi is associated with Ashoka in the 3rd–4th century CE Dipavamsa. The term literally means "he who regards amiably", or "of gracious …
Early life
Ashoka's own inscriptions do not describe his early life, and much of the information on this topic comes from apocryphal legends written hundreds of years after him. While these legends include obviously fictitious details such as narratives of Ashoka's past lives, they have some plausible historical information about Ashoka's period.
As a prince
According to the Ashokavadana, Bindusara disliked Ashoka because of his rough skin. One day, Bindusara asked the ascetic Pingala-vatsajiva to determine which of his sons was worthy of being his successor. He asked all the princes to assemble at the Garden of the Golden Pavilion on the ascetic's advice. Ashoka was reluctant to go because his father disliked him, but his mother convinced …
Ascension to the throne
Legends suggest that Ashoka was not the crown prince, and his ascension on the throne was disputed.
Ashokavadana states that Bindusara's eldest son Susima once slapped a bald minister on his head in jest. The minister worried that after ascending the throne, Susima may jokingly hurt him with a sword. Therefore, he instigated five hundred ministers to support Ashoka's claim to the th…
Reign before Buddhist influence
Both Sri Lankan and North Indian traditions assert that Ashoka was a violent person before Buddhism. Taranatha also states that Ashoka was initially called "Kamashoka" because he spent many years in pleasurable pursuits (kama); he was then called "Chandashoka" ("Ashoka the fierce") because he spent some years performing evil deeds; and finally, he came to be known as Dhammashoka ("Ashoka the righteous") after his conversion to Buddhism.