Ashoka

Now begins the most iconic transformation in Indian political history — a warrior prince who turned into a messenger of peace and Dhamma.

⚔️ Struggle for Power

• Ashoka was governor of Taxila and Ujjain during Bindusara’s reign.
• After his father’s death, Ashoka suppressed a revolt in Taxila.
• He wasn’t the designated heir. The 4-year gap between his accession (272 BCE) and coronation (268 BCE) hints at a bloody power struggle.

According to Buddhist chronicles like Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa, Ashoka killed 99 brothers, sparing only Tissa. While possibly exaggerated, this tale symbolizes the depth of his moral transformation later.

⚔️ The Kalinga War (c. 260 BCE): A Turning Point in World History

Ashoka launched a military campaign against Kalinga (modern Odisha), one of the few major regions outside Mauryan control.

🔥 What Happened?

• According to his Rock Edicts, the war:
  • Killed over 1 lakh people
  • Deported 1.5 lakh
  • Left countless others dead or broken

This wasn’t just a political conquest. It became an emotional and ethical breakdown for Ashoka.

🌱 Transformation: From Bherighosha to Dhammaghosha

Ashoka realized that military conquest (Bherighosha) only brought death and sorrow. He chose instead cultural and moral conquest (Dhammaghosha):

Major Rock Edict XIII says:
“Victory through Dhamma is greater than victory through violence.”

He inscribed this message so that future generations (his sons and grandsons) would not wage war, but promote Dhamma.

💭 Did Ashoka Become a Complete Pacifist? No.

• He retained Kalinga as part of the empire.
• He maintained a large army.
• He warned tribes and border people: follow Dhamma, or face consequences.

So, Ashoka wasn’t naïve. He was a strategic moralist, not a weak idealist.

🌐 Ashoka’s Foreign Policy: Diplomacy over Domination

• He made ideological appeals to:
  • Tribal groups
  • Border kingdoms
• Ashoka sent peace ambassadors to:
  • Greece
  • West Asia
  • Sri Lanka
• His goal: win hearts, not land.

🧘 Ashoka and Buddhism: A Gradual Conversion

• Influenced by Upagupta, a Buddhist monk
• First became an Upasaka (lay follower)
• Later became a Bhikkhu (monk)
• Organized the Third Buddhist Council (c. 250 BCE) at Pataliputra under Moggaliputta Tissa
• Sent Buddhist missions across Asia:
  • Sri Lanka: under Mahendra and Sanghamitra
  • Burma, Tamil Nadu, Central & West Asia

🌳 The Bodhi Tree Connection

• A branch of the original Bodhi Tree was planted in Sri Lanka—a powerful symbol of cultural transmission.

🚶‍♂️ Dhamma Yatra: Pilgrimage with Purpose

Ashoka didn’t just preach; he walked the path:

• Visited Lumbini, Sarnath, Sravasti, Kusinagara
• Promoted moral upliftment of people
• Built rest houses, wells, and roads
• Extended welfare to animals and foreigners

Ashoka’s Place in History

Ashoka is remembered not for expanding boundaries through violence, but for redefining what it meant to be a ruler—through moral strength, empathy, and ethical governance.

✅ Key Contributions of Ashoka:

1. Political Unification:

• First major emperor to politically unite a vast portion of India.
• Promoted unity through:
  • Dhamma (a unifying ethical code),
  • Brahmi script (used empire-wide),
  • Prakrit language (people’s tongue),
  • While also respecting local languages/scripts like Greek, Aramaic, and Kharosthi.

2. Religious Tolerance:

• Though a devout Buddhist, Ashoka never imposed his religion.
• Actively supported multiple sects, including Brahmanical and even anti-Buddhist ones.
• His Major Rock Edict XII promotes interfaith respect—centuries ahead of his time.

3. Cultural Conquest over Military Aggression:

• Departed from Kautilyan ideals of expansion through war.
• Emphasized moral and ideological conquest (Dhammaghosha).
• Urged successors: “Don’t seek military glory; spread dhamma instead.”

4. Renunciation of War:

• Post-Kalinga, he chose never to wage war again.
• This voluntary renunciation of violence makes him unique in global history.
• Maintained a strong army but never used it offensively.

5. First King to Speak to His People:

• Used inscriptions on rocks and pillars to directly communicate with commoners—an innovation in statecraft.