ASOKA

Introduction 

Ashoka Maurya, commonly known as Ashoka and also as Ashoka the Great, was an emperor of the Mauryan Empire, who ruled almost the entire Indian subcontinent from 269 BCE to 232 BCE.  

One of India's greatest emperors, Ashoka reigned over most of present-day India after a number of military conquests. His empire stretched from the parts of the ancient territories of Khorasan, Sistan and Balochistan in what is now Afghanistan and possibly eastern Iran, to present-day Bangladesh and the Indian state of Assam in the east, and as far south as northern Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. His reign was headquartered in Magadha the present-day Bihar. However, the empire had Taxila, Ujjain and Pataliputra (Patna) as its capital.

Early Achievements 

Ashoka was born in 304 BCE to the Mauryan emperor Bindusara, son of Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Mauryan dynasty.  His fighting qualities were apparent from an early age and he was given royal military training. He was known as a fearsome hunter, and according to a legend, killed a lion with just a wooden rod. Because of his reputation as a frightening warrior and a heartless general, he was the chosen as the one to succeed his father Bindusara.

Ascending the throne, Ashoka expanded his empire over the next eight years, from the present-day boundaries and regions of Burma–Bangladesh and the state of Assam in India in the east to the territory of present-day Iran / Persia and Afghanistan in the west; from the Pamir Knots in the north almost to the peninsula of southern India (i.e. Tamil Nadu / Andhra Pradesh).

Kalinga War 

In about 260 BCE Ashoka waged a bitterly destructive war against the state of Kalinga (modern Odisha) and conquered it, which none of his ancestors had done. The Kalinga War happened eight years after his coronation. The battle was a massive one and caused the deaths of more than 100,000 soldiers and many civilians who rose up in defense; over 150,000 were deported.

While he was walking through the grounds of Kalinga after his conquest, rejoicing in his victory, he was moved by the number of bodies strewn there and the wails of the kith and kin of the dead. He embraced Buddhism after witnessing the mass deaths of the war, which he himself had waged out of a desire for conquest.

Asoka and Buddhism 

Ashoka converted gradually to Buddhism in the beginning of about 263 BCE. He was later dedicated to the propagation of Buddhism across Asia, and established monuments marking several significant sites in the life of Gautama Buddha.

As a Buddhist emperor, Ashoka believed that Buddhism is beneficial for all human beings as well as animals and plants, so he built a number of Stupas, and residences for Buddhist monks all over South Asia and Central Asia. He ordered the construction of 84,000 stupas to house the Buddhas relics.  He gave donations to viharas and mathas. 

He sent his only daughter Sanghamitra and son Mahindra to spread Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Ashoka also invited Buddhists and non-Buddhists for religious conferences. He inspired the Buddhist monks to compose the sacred religious texts, and also gave all types of help to that end. Ashoka also helped to develop viharas such as Nalanda and Taxila.

Ashoka helped to construct Sanchi and Mahabodhi Temple. Ashoka also gave donations to non-Buddhists. Ashoka also helped to organise the Third Buddhist Council (c. 250 BCE) at Pataliputra.

Ashoka ruled for an estimated forty years. After his death, the Mauryan dynasty lasted just fifty more years until his empire stretched over almost all of the Indian subcontinent.