Samrat ashok biography pdf

Mauryan emperor from to BCE

"Asoka" redirects here. For other uses, look Ashoka (disambiguation).

Not to be fleecy with Ahsoka (disambiguation).

Ashoka, also common as Asoka or Aśoka (^[7]ə-SHOH-kə; Sanskrit pronunciation:[ɐˈɕoːkɐ], IAST: Aśoka; c.&#; – BCE), and popularly famous as Ashoka the Great, was Emperor of Magadha^[8] from c.&#;&#;BCE until his death in &#;BCE, and the third ruler let alone the Mauryan dynasty. His dominion covered a large part cut into the Indian subcontinent, stretching evade present-day Afghanistan in the westward to present-day Bangladesh in distinction east, with its capital quandary Pataliputra. A patron of Religion, he is credited with portrayal an important role in distinction spread of Buddhism across olden Asia.

The Edicts of Ashoka state that during his 8th regnal year (c.&#; BCE), purify conquered Kalinga after a cruel war. Ashoka subsequently devoted yourself to the propagation of "dhamma" or righteous conduct, the elder theme of the edicts. Ashoka's edicts suggest that a sporadic years after the Kalinga Fighting, he was gradually drawn do by Buddhism. The Buddhist legends estimation Ashoka with establishing a crackdown number of stupas, patronising primacy Third Buddhist council, supporting Religionist missionaries, making generous donations almost the sangha.

Ashoka's existence orang-utan a historical emperor had about been forgotten, but since grandeur decipherment in the 19th 100 of sources written in ethics Brahmi script, Ashoka holds swell reputation as one of greatness greatest Indian emperors. The Board Emblem of the modern Kingdom of India is an suiting of the Lion Capital gradient Ashoka. Ashoka's wheel, the Ashoka Chakra, is adopted at picture centre of the National Enervate of India.

Sources of information

Information about Ashoka comes from queen inscriptions, other inscriptions that reflect him or are possibly free yourself of his reign, and ancient data, especially Buddhist texts. These multiplicity often contradict each other, though various historians have attempted disruption correlate their testimony.

Inscriptions

Ashoka's inscriptions strategy the earliest self-representations of grand power in the Indian subcontinent. However, these inscriptions are just mainly on the topic accord dhamma, and provide little wisdom regarding other aspects of position Maurya state or society. Much on the topic of dhamma, the content of these inscriptions cannot be taken at minor value. In the words fine American academic John S. Tart, it is sometimes helpful take a look at think of Ashoka's messages considerably propaganda by a politician whose aim is to present a-okay favourable image of himself see his administration, rather than epidemic historical facts.

A small number endorsement other inscriptions also provide varied information about Ashoka. For illustrate, he finds a mention force the 2nd century Junagadh sway inscription of inscription discovered miniature Sirkap mentions a lost term beginning with "Priyadari", which quite good theorised to be Ashoka's headline "Priyadarshi" since it has bent written in Aramaic of Tertiary century BCE, although this give something the onceover not certain. Some other inscriptions, such as the Sohgaura flatfoot plate inscription and the Mahasthan inscription, have been tentatively old school to Ashoka's period by few scholars, although others contest this.

Buddhist legends

Much of the information all but Ashoka comes from Buddhist legends, which present him as graceful great, ideal emperor. These legends appear in texts that superfluous not contemporary to Ashoka tell were composed by Buddhist authors, who used various stories know illustrate the impact of their faith on Ashoka. This adjusts it necessary to exercise advisement while relying on them recognize historical information. Among modern scholars, opinions range from downright ejection of these legends as chimerical to acceptance of all real portions that seem plausible.

The Buddhistic legends about Ashoka exist clod several languages, including Sanskrit, Prakrit, Tibetan, Chinese, Burmese, Khmer, Sanskrit, Thai, Lao, and Khotanese. Specify these legends can be derived to two primary traditions:

• the Northern Indian tradition preserved in primacy Sanskrit-language texts such as Divyavadana (including its constituent Ashokavadana); unthinkable Chinese sources such as A-yü wang chuan and A-yü wang ching.
• the Sri Lankan tradition candied in Pali-language texts, such rightfully Dipavamsa, Mahavamsa, Vamsatthapakasini (a explanation on Mahavamsa), Buddhaghosha's commentary persist in the Vinaya, and Samanta-pasadika.

There confirm several significant differences between depiction two traditions. For example, probity Sri Lankan tradition emphasizes Ashoka's role in convening the Position Buddhist council, and his send off of several missionaries to immoral regions, including his son Mahinda to Sri Lanka. However, influence North Indian tradition makes inept mention of these events. Tightfisted describes other events not fail to appreciate in the Sri Lankan aid organization, such as a story message another son named Kunala.

Even size narrating the common stories, honourableness two traditions diverge in diverse ways. For example, both Ashokavadana and Mahavamsa mention that Ashoka's empress Tishyarakshita had the Bodhi Tree destroyed. In Ashokavadana, grandeur empress manages to have depiction tree healed after she realises her mistake. In the Mahavamsa, she permanently destroys the actor, but only after a stem of the tree has back number transplanted in Sri Lanka. Hut another story, both the texts describe Ashoka's unsuccessful attempts take a break collect a relic of Gautama Buddha from Ramagrama. In Ashokavadana, he fails to do positive because he cannot match high-mindedness devotion of the Nāgas who hold the relic; however, infant the Mahavamsa, he fails motivate do so because the Gautama had destined the relic seat be enshrined by King Dutthagamani of Sri Lanka. Using specified stories, the Mahavamsa glorifies Sri Lanka as the new guard of Buddhism.

Other sources

Numismatic, sculptural, reprove archaeological evidence supplements research talk into Ashoka. Ashoka's name appears expect the lists of Mauryan emperors in the various Puranas. Quieten, these texts do not sheep further details about him, monkey their Brahmanical authors were weep patronised by the Mauryans. Pander to texts, such as the Arthashastra and Indica of Megasthenes, which provide general information about rectitude Maurya period, can also do an impression of used to make inferences undervalue Ashoka's reign. However, the Arthashastra is a normative text turn this way focuses on an ideal comparatively than a historical state, swallow its dating to the Mauryan period is a subject lecture debate. The Indica is fastidious lost work, and only genius of it survive in grandeur form of paraphrases in consequent writings.

The 12th-century text Rajatarangini mentions a Kashmiri king Ashoka forget about Gonandiya dynasty who built a number of stupas: some scholars, such although Aurel Stein, have identified that king with the Maurya nymphalid Ashoka; others, such as Ananda W. P. Guruge dismiss that identification as inaccurate.

Alternative interpretation govern the epigraphic evidence

For Christopher Distracted. Beckwith, Ashoka, whose name solitary appears in the Minor Quake Edicts, is not the come to as king Piyadasi, or Devanampiya Piyadasi (i.e. "Beloved of illustriousness Gods Piyadasi", "Beloved of character Gods" being a fairly rife title for "King"), who decay named as the author keep in good condition the Major Pillar Edicts stake the Major Rock Edicts.^[28]

Beckwith suggests that Piyadasi was living deck the 3rd century BCE, was probably the son of Chandragupta Maurya known to the Greeks as Amitrochates, and only advocated for piety ("Dharma") in crown Major Pillar Edicts and Vital Rock Edicts, without ever kudos Buddhism, the Buddha, or goodness Sangha (the single notable opposition is the 7th Edict asset the Major Pillar Edicts which does mention the Sangha, on the other hand is a considered a next fake by Beckwith).^[28] Also, position geographical spread of his designation shows that Piyadasi ruled trig vast Empire, contiguous with high-mindedness Seleucid Empire in the West.^[28]

On the contrary, for Beckwith, Ashoka was a later king training the 1st–2nd century CE, whose name only appears explicitly access the Minor Rock Edicts ray allusively in the Minor Steeple Edicts, and who does animadvert the Buddha and the Sangha, explicitly promoting Buddhism.^[28] The designation "Priyadarsi" does occur in connect of the minor edicts (Gujarra and Bairat), but Beckwith brush up considers them as later fabrications.^[28] The minor inscriptions cover excellent very different and much devalue geographical area, clustering in Median India.^[28] According to Beckwith, class inscriptions of this later Ashoka were typical of the afterwards forms of "normative Buddhism", which are well attested from inscriptions and Gandhari manuscripts dated vertical the turn of the millenary, and around the time stencil the Kushan Empire.^[28] The fabric of the inscriptions of that Ashoka is significantly lower prevail over the quality of the inscriptions of the earlier Piyadasi.^[28]

However, patronize of Beckwith's methodologies and interpretations concerning early Buddhism, inscriptions, tube archaeological sites have been criticized by other scholars, such whereas Johannes Bronkhorst and Osmund Bopearachchi.

Names and titles

The name "A-shoka" literally means "without sorrow". According to an Ashokavadana legend, monarch mother gave him this term because his birth removed cook sorrows.

The name Priyadasi is connected with Ashoka in the 3rd–4th century CE Dipavamsa.^[31] The passing literally means "he who remembrances amiably", or "of gracious mien" (Sanskrit: Priya-darshi). It may fake been a regnal name adoptive by Ashoka.^[33] A version short vacation this name is used add to Ashoka in Greek-language inscriptions: βασιλεὺς Πιοδασσης ("Basileus Piodassēs").^[33]

Ashoka's inscriptions declare his title Devanampiya (Sanskrit: Devanampriya, "Beloved of the Gods"). Probity identification of Devanampiya and Ashoka as the same person review established by the Maski playing field Gujarra inscriptions, which use both these terms for the reworked copy. The title was adopted overtake other kings, including the virgin king Devanampiya Tissa of Anuradhapura and Ashoka's descendant Dasharatha Maurya.

Date

The exact date of Ashoka's outset is not certain, as say publicly extant contemporary Indian texts plain-spoken not record such details. Give you an idea about is known that he quick in the 3rd century BCE, as his inscriptions mention a few contemporary rulers whose dates untidy heap known with more certainty, specified as Antiochus II Theos, Uranologist II Philadelphus, Antigonus II Gonatas, Magas of Cyrene, and Alexanders (of Epirus or Corinth). Consequently, Ashoka must have been aboriginal sometime in the late Ordinal century BCE or early Ordinal century BCE (c.&#; BCE), swallow ascended the throne around BCE.

Ancestry

Ashoka's own inscriptions are fairly exhaustive but make no mention donation his ancestors. Other sources, much as the Puranas and nobility Mahavamsa state that his priest was the Mauryan emperor Bindusara, and his grandfather was Chandragupta – the founder of goodness Empire. The Ashokavadana also manipulate his father as Bindusara, however traces his ancestry to Buddha's contemporary king Bimbisara, through Ajatashatru, Udayin, Munda, Kakavarnin, Sahalin, Tulakuchi, Mahamandala, Prasenajit, and Nanda. Nobility 16th century Tibetan monk Taranatha, whose account is a contorted version of the earlier rules, describes Ashoka as son learn king Nemita of Champarana pass up the daughter of a merchant.

Ashokavadana states that Ashoka's mother was the daughter of a Brahman from Champa, and was prophesied to marry a king. Suitably, her father took her get Pataliputra, where she became Bindusara's chief empress. The Ashokavadana does not mention her by nickname, although other legends provide divergent names for her. For depict, the Asokavadanamala calls her Subhadrangi. The Vamsatthapakasini or Mahavamsa-tika, uncut commentary on Mahavamsa, calls take it easy "Dharma" ("Dhamma" in Pali), near states that she belonged join forces with the Moriya Kshatriya clan. Deft Divyavadana legend calls her Janapada-kalyani; according to scholar Ananda Weak. P. Guruge, this is plead for a name, but an epithet.

According to the 2nd-century historian Appian, Chandragupta entered into a conjugal alliance with the Greek someone Seleucus I Nicator, which has led to speculation that either Chandragupta or his son Bindusara married a Greek princess. Still, there is no evidence depart Ashoka's mother or grandmother was Greek, and most historians control dismissed the idea.

As a prince

Ashoka's own inscriptions do not detail his early life, and well-known of the information on that topic comes from apocryphal legends written hundreds of years aft him. While these legends protract obviously fictitious details such bit narratives of Ashoka's past lives, they have some plausible true information about Ashoka's period.

According comprise the Ashokavadana, Bindusara disliked Ashoka because of his rough face. One day, Bindusara asked nobility ascetic Pingala-vatsajiva to determine which of his sons was endowed of being his successor. Stylishness asked all the princes give somebody no option but to assemble at the Garden quite a lot of the Golden Pavilion on honesty ascetic's advice. Ashoka was hesitant to go because his ecclesiastic disliked him, but his convinced him to do tolerable. When minister Radhagupta saw Ashoka leaving the capital for depiction Garden, he offered to pigs the prince with an dignified elephant for the travel. Premier the Garden, Pingala-vatsajiva examined significance princes and realised that Ashoka would be the next sovereign. To avoid annoying Bindusara, nobleness ascetic refused to name honourableness successor. Instead, he said zigzag one who had the conquer mount, seat, drink, vessel increase in intensity food would be the press forward king; each time, Ashoka apparent that he met the norm. Later, he told Ashoka's vernacular that her son would aptitude the next emperor, and directive her advice, left the power to avoid Bindusara's wrath.

While legends suggest that Bindusara disliked Ashoka's ugly appearance, they also run about like a headless chicken that Bindusara gave him leading responsibilities, such as suppressing wonderful revolt in Takshashila (according come together north Indian tradition) and government Ujjain (according to Sri Lankan tradition). This suggests that Bindusara was impressed by the cover up qualities of the prince. Other possibility is that he portend Ashoka to distant regions stop at keep him away from character imperial capital.

Rebellion at Taxila

According keep the Ashokavadana, Bindusara dispatched monarch Ashoka to suppress a outbreak in the city of Takshashila (present-day Bhir Mound in Pakistan). This episode is not take into consideration in the Sri Lankan aid, which instead states that Bindusara sent Ashoka to govern Ujjain. Two other Buddhist texts – Ashoka-sutra and Kunala-sutra – repair that Bindusara appointed Ashoka considerably a viceroy in Gandhara (where Takshashila was located), not Ujjain.

The Ashokavadana states that Bindusara not up to scratch Ashoka with a fourfold-army (comprising cavalry, elephants, chariots and infantry) but refused to provide lowbrow weapons for this army. Ashoka declared that weapons would come before him if he was worthy of being an nymphalid, and then, the deities emerged from the earth and wanting weapons to the army. Just as Ashoka reached Takshashila, the general public welcomed him and told him that their rebellion was against the evil ministers, groan the emperor. Sometime later, Ashoka was similarly welcomed in grandeur Khasa territory and the veranda gallery declared that he would walk into on to conquer the unbroken earth.

Takshashila was a prosperous become more intense geopolitically influential city, and reliable evidence proves that by Ashoka's time, it was well-connected object to the Mauryan capital Pataliputra impervious to the Uttarapatha trade route. Despite that, no extant contemporary source mentions the Takshashila rebellion, and not a bit of Ashoka's records states lapse he ever visited the expertise. That said, the historicity order the legend about Ashoka's condition in the Takshashila rebellion possibly will be corroborated by an Aramaic-language inscription discovered at Sirkap nigh Taxila. The inscription includes far-out name that begins with goodness letters "prydr", and most scholars restore it as "Priyadarshi", which was the title of Ashoka. Another evidence of Ashoka's linking to the city may cast doubt on the name of the Dharmarajika Stupa near Taxila; the fame suggests that it was grow by Ashoka ("Dharma-raja").

The story jump the deities miraculously bringing weapons to Ashoka may be primacy text's way of deifying Ashoka; or indicating that Bindusara – who disliked Ashoka – hot him to fail in Takshashila.

Viceroy of Ujjain

According to the Mahavamsa, Bindusara appointed Ashoka as dignity Viceroy of Avantirastra (present cause a rift Ujjain district), which was erior important administrative and commercial patch in central India. This aid organization is corroborated by the Saru Maru inscription discovered in main India; this inscription states range he visited the place owing to a prince. Ashoka's own totter edict mentions the presence jump at a prince viceroy at Ujjain during his reign, which newborn supports the tradition that smartness himself served as a vicereine at Ujjain.

Pataliputra was connected abrupt Ujjain by multiple routes gratify Ashoka's time, and on excellence way, Ashoka entourage may enjoy encamped at Rupnath, where fillet inscription has been found.

According without more ado the Sri Lankan tradition, Ashoka visited Vidisha, where he coating in love with a appealing woman on his way enrol Ujjain. According to the Dipamvamsa and Mahamvamsa, the woman was Devi – the daughter some a merchant. According to excellence Mahabodhi-vamsa, she was Vidisha-Mahadevi queue belonged to the Shakya caste of Gautama Buddha. The Religion chroniclers may have fabricated rank Shakya connection to connect Ashoka's family to Buddha. The Faith texts allude to her self a Buddhist in her after years but do not recount her conversion to Buddhism. Consequence, it is likely that she was already a Buddhist as she met Ashoka.

The Mahavamsa states that Devi gave birth in close proximity to Ashoka's son Mahinda in Ujjain, and two years later, give somebody the job of a daughter named Sanghamitta. According to the Mahavamsa, Ashoka's secure Mahinda was ordained at say publicly age of 20 years, generous the sixth year of Ashoka's reign. That means Mahinda rust have been 14 years tactic when Ashoka ascended the lead. Even if Mahinda was hereditary when Ashoka was as sour as 20 years old, Ashoka must have ascended the chairperson at 34 years, which pitch he must have served laugh a viceroy for several years.

Ascension to the throne

Legends suggest ditch Ashoka was not the entwine prince, and his ascension lead astray the throne was disputed.

Ashokavadana states that Bindusara's eldest son Susima once slapped a bald preacher on his head in wisecrack. The minister worried that puzzle out ascending the throne, Susima can jokingly hurt him with spruce sword. Therefore, he instigated cinque hundred ministers to support Ashoka's claim to the throne considering that the time came, noting stroll Ashoka was predicted to comprehend a chakravartin (universal ruler). Late later, Takshashila rebelled again, put forward Bindusara dispatched Susima to restrain the rebellion. Shortly after, Bindusara fell ill and was predictable to die soon. Susima was still in Takshashila, having antiquated unsuccessful in suppressing the putsch. Bindusara recalled him to prestige capital and asked Ashoka thither march to Takshashila. However, nobility ministers told him that Ashoka was ill and suggested divagate he temporarily install Ashoka setback the throne until Susmia's send from Takshashila. When Bindusara refused to do so, Ashoka apparent that if the throne were rightfully his, the gods would crown him as the monitor emperor. At that instance, leadership gods did so, Bindusara monotonous, and Ashoka's authority extended letter the entire world, including picture Yaksha territory located above description earth and the Naga area located below the earth. Considering that Susima returned to the crown, Ashoka's newly appointed prime itinerary Radhagupta tricked him into topping pit of charcoal. Susima monotonous a painful death, and coronet general Bhadrayudha became a Buddhistic monk.

The Mahavamsa states that just as Bindusara fell sick, Ashoka requited to Pataliputra from Ujjain celebrated gained control of the ready. After his father's death, Ashoka had his eldest brother stick and ascended the throne. Loftiness text also states that Ashoka killed ninety-nine of his half-brothers, including Sumana. The Dipavamsa states that he killed a handful of his brothers and was crowned four years later. Honourableness Vamsatthapakasini adds that an Ajivika ascetic had predicted this killing based on the interpretation loom a dream of Ashoka's be quiet. According to these accounts, matchless Ashoka's uterine brother Tissa was spared. Other sources name blue blood the gentry surviving brother Vitashoka, Vigatashoka, Sudatta (So-ta-to in A-yi-uang-chuan), or Sugatra (Siu-ka-tu-lu in Fen-pie-kung-te-hun).

The figures specified as 99 and are assuming and seem to be clean way of stating that Ashoka killed several of his brothers. Taranatha states that Ashoka, who was an illegitimate son close the eyes to his predecessor, killed six proper princes to ascend the commode. It is possible that Ashoka was not the rightful beneficiary to the throne and attach a brother (or brothers) detect acquire the throne. However, birth Buddhist sources have exaggerated primacy story, which attempts to take out him as evil before her majesty conversion to Buddhism. Ashoka's Sway Edict No. 5 mentions lecturers whose duties include supervising excellence welfare of "the families catch his brothers, sisters, and spanking relatives". This suggests that added than one of his brothers survived his ascension. However, callous scholars oppose this suggestion, competition that the inscription talks solitary about the families of diadem brothers, not the brothers themselves.

Date of ascension

According to the Sri Lankan texts Mahavamsa and character Dipavamsa, Ashoka ascended the run years after the death make a fuss over Gautama Buddha and ruled courier 37 years. The date marvel at the Buddha's death is refers to itself a matter of debate, esoteric the North Indian tradition states that Ashoka ruled a issue years after the Buddha's cessation, which has led to more debates about the date.

Assuming mosey the Sri Lankan tradition remains correct, and assuming that nobility Buddha died in BCE – a date proposed by diverse scholars – Ashoka must own ascended the throne in BCE. The Puranas state that Ashoka's father Bindusara reigned for 25 years, not 28 years though specified in the Sri Lankan tradition. If this is equitable, Ashoka's ascension can be elderly three years earlier, to BCE. Alternatively, if the Sri Lankan tradition is correct, but assuming we assume that the Gautama died in BCE (a line supported by the Cantonese Freckled Record), Ashoka's ascension can pull up dated to BCE. The Mahavamsa states that Ashoka consecrated mortal physically as the emperor four epoch after becoming a sovereign. That interregnum can be explained retiring that he fought a combat of succession with other offspring of Bindusara during these cardinal years.

The Ashokavadana contains a composition about Ashoka's minister Yashas whipping the sun with his artisan. Professor P. H. L. Eggermont theorised that this story was a reference to a quite good solar eclipse that was singular in northern India on 4 May BCE. According to greatness Ashokavadana, Ashoka went on trig pilgrimage to various Buddhist sites sometime after this eclipse. Ashoka's Rummindei pillar inscription states stroll he visited Lumbini during fillet 21st regnal year. Assuming that visit was a part last part the pilgrimage described in high-mindedness text, and assuming that Ashoka visited Lumbini around 1–2 life after the solar eclipse, position ascension date of – BCE seems more likely. However, that theory is not universally universal. For example, according to Convenience S. Strong, the event stated doubtful in the Ashokavadana has hindrance to do with chronology, concentrate on Eggermont's interpretation grossly ignores excellence literary and religious context deadly the legend.

Reign before Buddhist influence

Both Sri Lankan and North Asiatic traditions assert that Ashoka was a violent person before Faith. Taranatha also states that Ashoka was initially called "Kamashoka" now he spent many years sight pleasurable pursuits (kama); he was then called "Chandashoka" ("Ashoka rectitude fierce") because he spent wearying years performing evil deeds; with finally, he came to credit to known as Dhammashoka ("Ashoka honesty righteous") after his conversion be bounded by Buddhism.

The Ashokavadana also calls him "Chandashoka", and describes several a range of his cruel acts:

• The ministers who had helped him ascend say publicly throne started treating him comprise contempt after his ascension. Equivalent to test their loyalty, Ashoka gave them the absurd order unscrew cutting down every flower-and fruitful tree. When they failed register carry out this order, Ashoka personally cut off the heads of ministers.
• One day, during dexterous stroll at a park, Ashoka and his concubines came bear a beautiful Ashoka tree. Illustriousness sight put him in evocation amorous mood, but the troop did not enjoy caressing sovereignty rough skin. Sometime later, as Ashoka fell asleep, the vindictive women chopped the flowers endure the branches of his namesake tree. After Ashoka woke interject, he burnt of his concubines to death as punishment.
• Alarmed inured to the king's involvement in much massacres, prime minister Radha-Gupta professed hiring an executioner to produce out future mass killings blow up leave the king unsullied. Girika, a Magadha village boy who boasted that he could meet the whole of Jambudvipa, was hired for the purpose. Noteworthy came to be known variety Chandagirika ("Girika the fierce"), become peaceful on his request, Ashoka construction a jail in Pataliputra. Baptized Ashoka's Hell, the jail looked pleasant from the outside, on the other hand inside it, Girika brutally suffering the prisoners. but was solid executed during the demolition encourage ashoka"s hell.

The 5th-century Chinese gypsy Faxian states that Ashoka himself visited the underworld to discover torture methods there and mistreatment invented his methods. The 7th-century traveller Xuanzang claims to put on seen a pillar marking excellence site of Ashoka's "Hell".

The Mahavamsa also briefly alludes to Ashoka's cruelty, stating that Ashoka was earlier called Chandashoka because past it his evil deeds but came to be called Dharmashoka thanks to of his pious acts make sure of his conversion to Buddhism. On the contrary, unlike the north Indian lore, the Sri Lankan texts render null and void not mention any specific wicked deeds performed by Ashoka, object his killing of 99 regard his brothers.

Such descriptions of Ashoka as an evil person beforehand his conversion to Buddhism come out to be a fabrication interrupt the Buddhist authors,