Asoka the Great
Mauryan Emperor
Modern reconstruction of Asoka's portrait
Reign	273 BC-232 BC
Full name	Asoka Maurya
Titles	Devanampriya Priyadarsi, Dhamma
Born	304 BC
Birthplace	Pataliputra (Modern Day, Patna)
Died	232 BC
Place of death	Pataliputra
Buried	Ashes immersed in Ganges River, possibly at Varanasi
Predecessor	Bindusara
Successor	Dasaratha Maurya
Consort	Maharani Devi
Wives	Rani Tishyaraksha Rani Padmavati Rani Kaurwaki
Issue	Mahinda
Royal House	Mauryan dynasty
Father	Bindusara
Mother	Rani Dharma

Asoka (Devanāgarī: अशोकः, IAST: Aśokaḥ, IPA: [aɕoːkə(h^ə)], Prakrit Imperial title: Devanampriya Priyadarsi (Devanāgarī: देवानांप्रिय प्रियदर्शी), "He who is the beloved of the Gods and who regards everyone amiably") and Dhamma (Devanāgarī: धम्मः), "Lawful, Religious, Righteous") (304 BC – 232 BC) was an Indian emperor, of the Maurya Dynasty who ruled from 273 BC to 232 BC. The Maurya Empire ( 322 – 185 BCE) ruled by the Mauryan dynasty was a geographically extensive and powerful political and military Events By place Egypt Impressed by Rome's defeat of Pyrrhus, Ptolemy II sends a friendly embassy Events By place Seleucid Empire The Seleucid king Seleucus II Callinicus undertakes an expedition into the interior of Iran to Paṭnā ( Hindi: पटना is the capital of the Indian state of Bihar, and one of the oldest continuously inhabited Paṭnā ( Hindi: पटना is the capital of the Indian state of Bihar, and one of the oldest continuously inhabited Paṭnā ( Hindi: पटना is the capital of the Indian state of Bihar, and one of the oldest continuously inhabited The Ganges (ˈgænʤiːz also Ganga, Devanāgarī: hi गंगा in most Indian languages) is the major river in the Indian subcontinent Varanasi ( Sanskrit: वाराणसी Vārāṇasī, pronunciation) also commonly known as Benares ( or Banaras (बनारस Bindusara was the second Mauryan emperor (Born c 320 BC ruled 298 - c Dasaratha Maurya was Emperor of the Mauryan Empire from 232 BC to 224 BC Devi ( Devanagari: देवी) is the Sanskrit word for Goddess, used mostly in Hinduism. Tishyaraksha was one of the wives of emperor Ashoka, who was the ruler of much of the Indian subcontinent. It is said that Queen Kaurwaki was a Fisherwoman and later on became one of Ashoka's wives Mahinda ( Sanskrit: महिन्द्र Mahindra) (born 3rd century BCE in Magadha, now in Bihar, India) was a Buddhist The Maurya Empire ( 322 – 185 BCE) ruled by the Mauryan dynasty was a geographically extensive and powerful political and military Bindusara was the second Mauryan emperor (Born c 320 BC ruled 298 - c The International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration ( IAST) is a popular Transliteration scheme that allows a lossless Romanization of Indic Prakrit (also transliterated as Pracrit) ( Sanskrit: prākṛta प्राकृत (from pra-kṛti प्रकृति according to one Events By place Greece The siege of Rhodes ends after a year as Demetrius Poliorcetes meets with obstinate resistance from the Events By place Seleucid Empire The Seleucid king Seleucus II Callinicus undertakes an expedition into the interior of Iran to India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The Maurya Empire ( 322 – 185 BCE) ruled by the Mauryan dynasty was a geographically extensive and powerful political and military Events By place Egypt Impressed by Rome's defeat of Pyrrhus, Ptolemy II sends a friendly embassy Events By place Seleucid Empire The Seleucid king Seleucus II Callinicus undertakes an expedition into the interior of Iran to Often cited as one of India's greatest emperors, Ashoka reigned over most of present-day India after a number of military conquests. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country His empire stretched from present-day Pakistan, Afghanistan and parts of Persia in the west, to the present-day Bengal and Assam states of India in the east, and as far south as the Mysore state. Pakistan () officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country located in South Asia, Southwest Asia, Middle East and Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Etymology and ethnology The exact origin of the word Bangla or Bengal is unknown though it is believed to be derived from the Dravidian-speaking tribe Bang Assam) ( Assamese: অসম Ôxôm) is a northeastern state of India with its capital at Dispur, a suburb of the city Mysore (maɪˈsɔɚ in English; renamed to Mysuru|ಮೈಸೂರು) (ಮೈಸೂರು is the second largest city in the state of Karnataka, India His reign was headquartered in Magadha (present-day Bihar state of India). Bihar ( Hindi:बिहार Urdu: بہار bɪhaːr) is a state in eastern India. ^[1] He embraced Buddhism from the prevalent Vedic tradition after witnessing the mass deaths of the war of Kalinga, which he himself had waged out of a desire for conquest. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Kalinga was a Kingdom in central-eastern India, which comprised most of the modern state of Orissa, as well as some northern areas of the bordering state He was later dedicated in the propagation of Buddhism across Asia and established monuments marking several significant sites in the life of Gautama Buddha. Siddhārtha Gautama ( Sanskrit; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual Teacher from Ancient India and the founder

His name "aśoka" means "without sorrow" in Sanskrit. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical In his edicts, he is referred to as Devānāmpriya (Devanāgarī: देवानांप्रिय)/Devānaṃpiya or "The Beloved Of The Gods", and Priyadarśin (Devanāgarī: प्रियदर्शी)/Piyadassī or "He who regards everyone amiably". The Edicts of Ashoka are a collection of 33 inscriptions on the Pillars of Ashoka, as well as boulders and cave walls made by the Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan

Science fiction novelist H. G. Wells wrote of Asoka:

In the history of the world there have been thousands of kings and emperors who called themselves 'their highnesses,' 'their majesties,' and 'their exalted majesties' and so on. Herbert George Wells (21 September 1866 &ndash 13 August 1946 He was an outspoken socialist and a pacifist, his later works becoming increasingly political They shone for a brief moment, and as quickly disappeared. But Ashoka shines and shines brightly like a bright star, even unto this day.

Along with the Edicts of Ashoka, his legend is related in the later 2nd century Aśokāvadāna ("Narrative of Asoka") and Divyāvadāna ("Divine narrative"), and in the Sinhalese text Mahavamsa ("Great Chronicle"). The Edicts of Ashoka are a collection of 33 inscriptions on the Pillars of Ashoka, as well as boulders and cave walls made by the Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan The Ashokavadana ( Sanskrit: अशॊकवदन "Narrative of Ashoka" is a 2nd century CE document related to the legend of the Maurya Emperor Ashoka The Divyāvadāna, or Divine Stories is an anthology of Buddhist tales many originating in the Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya texts Sinhalese or Sinhala (සිංහල ISO 15919: siṁhala ˈsiŋhələ earlier referred to as Singhalese) is the language of the Sinhalese The Mahavamsa, ("Great Chronicle " is a historical poem written in the Pali language of the kings of Sri Lanka. Although there are many inscriptions of Ashoka, no coins which can be confidently linked to him have been found. This may be linked to the fact that his contemporary and neighbour Diodotus_I has numerous coins but no inscriptions. Diodotus, Seleucid Satrap of Bactria, rebelled against Antiochus II (about 255 BC and became the founder of the Graeco-Bactrian kingdom Moreover, the Kandahar bilingual inscrption clearly indicates that Ashoka was the ruler of this area but the coins point to Diodotus-I as the ruler. Dr. Ranajit Pal attempts to resolve the problem by suggesting that Ashoka was the same as Diodotus_I. [1] He maintains that Patali(28°19'58" La. , 57°52'16" Lo. )[2] near Kohnouj and Konarak in the Gulf Area was Pataliputra. [3]

An emblem excavated from his empire is today the national emblem of India.

Embrace of Buddhism

Main article: Buddhism in India

The Asoka Chakra, featured on the flag of the Republic of India

Ashoka The Great was a Hindu by birth but later converted to Buddhism after the battle of Kalinga. Buddhism is a world religion which arose in Bihar, India and is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, who is known as the Buddha (literally India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country According to legend, one day after the war was over Ashoka ventured out to roam the eastern city and all he could see were burnt houses and scattered corpses. This sight made him sick and he cried the famous quotation, "What have I done?" Upon his return to Pataliputra, he could get no sleep and was constantly haunted by his deeds in Kalinga. The brutality of the conquest led him to adopt Buddhism under the guidance of the Brahmin Buddhist sages Radhaswami and Manjushri^[2] and he used his position to propagate the relatively new philosophy to new heights, as far as ancient Rome and Egypt. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Philosophy is the study of general problems concerning matters such as existence knowledge truth beauty justice validity mind and language Manjusri ( Ch: Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2 This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. When the war against Kalinga ended, Asoka's warriors had killed over 100,000 people. He was filled with sorrow. He gave up war and violence, thus becoming almost the exact opposite of his grandfather, Chandragupta Maurya. Chandragupta Maurya (चन्द्रगुप्त मौर्य sometimes known simply as Chandragupta (born c He freed his prisoners and gave them back their land. He declared in his edicts:

Legend has it that there was another factor that led Ashoka to Buddhism. A Mauryan princess who had been married to one of Ashoka's brothers (who Ashoka executed) fled her palace with a maid, fearing for her unborn child. The Maurya Empire ( 322 – 185 BCE) ruled by the Mauryan dynasty was a geographically extensive and powerful political and military After much travel, the pregnant princess collapsed under a tree in the forest, and the maid ran to a nearby ashram to fetch a priest or physician to help. An Ashram in ancient India was a Hindu hermitage where sages lived in Peace and tranquility amidst Nature. Meanwhile, under the tree, the princess gave birth to a son. The young prince was brought up by the Brahmins of the ashram and educated by them. Later, when he was around thirteen years old, he caught the eye of Ashoka, who was surprised to see such a young boy dressed as a sage. When the boy calmly revealed who he was, it seemed that Ashoka was moved by guilt and compassion, and moved the boy and his mother into the palace.

Meanwhile Maharani Devi, who was a Buddhist, had brought up her children in that faith, and apparently left Ashoka after she saw the horrors of Kalinga. Ashoka was grieved by this, and was counselled by his nephew (who had been raised in the ashram and was more priest than prince) to embrace his dharma and draw away from war. Prince Mahindra and Princess Sanghamitra, the children of Maharani Devi, abhorred violence and bloodshed, but knew that as royals war would be a part of their lives. Mahinda ( Sanskrit: महिन्द्र Mahindra) (born 3rd century BCE in Magadha, now in Bihar, India) was a Buddhist See also Ashoka Bhikkhuni Sri Maha Bodhi They therefore asked Ashoka for permission to join the Buddhist Sangha, which Ashoka reluctantly granted. This article concerns the concept of Sangha in Buddhism. For information on other senses see Sangha (disambiguation. The two siblings established Buddhism in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island

From that point Ashoka, who had been described as "the cruel Ashoka" (Chandashoka), started to be described as "the pious Ashoka" (Dharmashoka). He propagated the Vibhajjavada school of Buddhism and preached it within his domain and worldwide from about 250 BC. Vibhajjavāda is an umbrella classification for Buddhist denominations that promote analysis as a primary tool for developing 'insight' (Sanskrit Prajñā Events By place Egypt Ptolemy II encourages the Jewish residents of Alexandria to have their Bible translated Emperor Ashoka undoubtedly has to be credited with the first serious attempt to develop a Buddhist policy. A policy is a deliberate plan of action to guide decisions and achieve rational outcome(s

Silver punch-mark coins of the Mauryan empire, bear Buddhist symbols such as the Dharmacakra, the elephant (previous form of the Buddha), the tree under which enlightenment happened, and the burial mound where the Buddha died (obverse). The Dharmachakra ( Sanskrit) or Dhammachakka ( Pāli) Tibetan chos kyi 'khor lo, Chinese fălún 法輪 3rd century BC. The 3rd century BC started the first day of 300 BC and ended the last day of 201 BC

Policy

Emperor Asoka's edicts tell of a supposed immense public works program. He built thousands of Stupas and Viharas for Buddhist followers (the Asokavadana says 84,000 such monuments were built). A stupa (from Sanskrit and Pāli: m स्तूप stūpa, literally meaning "heap" is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist Vihara (विहार is Sanskrit or Pali for ( Buddhist) Monastery. The Ashokavadana ( Sanskrit: अशॊकवदन "Narrative of Ashoka" is a 2nd century CE document related to the legend of the Maurya Emperor Ashoka The Stupas of Sanchi are world famous and the stupa named Sanchi Stupa 1 was built by Emperor Ashoka. Sanchi is a small Village in Raisen District of India, it is located 46 km north east of Bhopal, and 10 km from Besnagar and During the remaining portion of Ashoka's reign, he pursued an official policy of nonviolence or ahimsa. Nonviolence is a philosophy and strategy for social change that rejects the use of physical Violence. Ahimsa ( Devanagari: sa अहिंसा IAST ahiṃsā is a Sanskrit term meaning Non-violence (literally the avoidance of violence - The unnecessary slaughter or mutilation of animals was immediately abolished. Wildlife became protected by the king's law against sport hunting and branding. Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants animals and other organisms Sport is an Activity that is governed by a set of rules or Customs and often engaged in competitively Hunting is the practice of pursuing Animals for Food, Recreation, or Trade. Livestock branding is any technique for marking Livestock so as to identify the owner Limited hunting was permitted for consumption reasons but Ashoka also promoted the concept of vegetarianism. Vegetarianism is the practice of a diet that excludes Meat (including game and slaughter by-products Fish (including Shellfish and other sea Enormous resthouses were built through the empire to house travellers and pilgrims free of charge. Ashoka also showed mercy to those imprisoned, allowing them outside one day each year. He attempted to raise the professional ambition of the common man by building universities for study and water transit and irrigation systems for trade and agriculture. A university is an institution of Higher education and Research, which grants Academic degrees in a variety of subjects Irrigation is an artificial application of water to the soil usually for assisting in growing crops Trade is the willing exchange of goods, services, or both Trade is also called Commerce. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture He treated his subjects as equals regardless of their religion, politics and caste. Castes are Hereditary systems of occupation, Endogamy, social culture, Social class, and Political power. The weaker kingdoms surrounding his, which could so easily be overthrown, were instead made to be well-respected allies.

He is acclaimed for constructing hospitals for animals and people alike, and renovating major roads throughout India. A hospital is an institution for Health care providing treatment by specialised staff and equipment and often but not always providing for India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country However, there are historians who dispute the claim that Ashoka built any hospitals at all, and argue that it is based on a mistranslation, with references to 'rest houses' (way stations) being mistaken for hospitals. The error is thought to have occurred because similar edicts and records talk of Ashoka importing medicinal supplies. ^[4] Dharmashoka also defined the main principles of dharma (dhamma in Pāli) as nonviolence, tolerance of all sects and opinions, obedience to parents, respect for the Brahmins and other religious teachers and priests, liberality towards friends, humane treatment of servants, and generosity towards all. Pali ( ISO 15919 / ALA-LC: Pāḷi is a Middle Indo-Aryan language or Prakrit of India. In the Sociology of religion a sect is generally a smaller religious or political group that has broken off from a larger group for example from a Respect is esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person a personal quality or ability or something considered as a manifestation of a personal quality or ability Brahmin ( Brāhmaṇa, sa ब्राह्मणः is the class of educators scholars and preachers in Brahminical Hinduism. A priest or priestess is a person having the authority or power to administer religious rites in particular rites of sacrifice to and propitiation of a deity or deities Liberalism is a broad array of related ideas and theories of Government that consider individual Liberty to be the most important political goal A domestic worker, domestic, servingman, servingwoman, or servant is one who works and often also lives within the employer's household Generosity is the habit of giving without coercion. Often equated with charity as a Virtue, generosity is widely accepted in society These principles suggest a general ethic of behavior to which no religious or social group could object.

In the Maurya Empire, citizens of all religions and ethnic groups also had rights to freedom, tolerance, and equality. Freedom, or the idea of being free is a broad concept that The need for tolerance on an egalitarian basis can be found in the Edicts of Ashoka, which emphasize the importance of tolerance in public policy by the government. Egalitarianism (derived from the French word égal, meaning equal) is a political doctrine that holds that all people should be treated as equals and have The slaughter or capture of prisoners of war was also condemned by Ashoka. ^[5] Slavery was also non-existent in ancient India, if one considers Dalits to be free. Dalit is a self designation for group of people of South Asian descent who were traditionally regarded as untouchables or low Caste. ^[6]

Edicts

Main article: Edicts of Ashoka

Distribution of the Edicts of Ashoka and Ashokan territorial limits. The Edicts of Ashoka are a collection of 33 inscriptions on the Pillars of Ashoka, as well as boulders and cave walls made by the Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan ^[7]

The Ashoka Pillar at Sarnath is the most popular of the relics left by Ashoka. The pillars of Ashoka are a series of columns dispersed throughout the northern Indian subcontinent and erected by the Mauryan king Ashoka during his reign in This article is about a place in India For H P Lovecraft 's fictitious city see The Doom That Came to Sarnath. Made of sandstone, this pillar records the visit of the emperor to Sarnath, in the 3rd century BC. Sandstone is a Sedimentary rock composed mainly of Sand -size Mineral or rock grains. The 3rd century BC started the first day of 300 BC and ended the last day of 201 BC 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 capital of Ashoka is a sculpture of four " Indian lions quot standing back to back This article is about symbols of nations Many countries it can be used for is Chantal The lion symbolises both Ashoka's imperial rule and the kingship of the Buddha. The bulk of what is known about the Maurya Empire comes from inscriptions on these monuments. It is assumed that the inscriptions convey factual information about the Empire. It is difficult to determine whether certain events ever happened, but the stone etchings convey clearly how Ashoka wanted to be seen and remembered.

Ashoka's own words as known from his Edicts are: "All men are my children. I am like a father to them. As every father desires the good and the happiness of his children, I wish that all men should be happy always. " Edward D'Cruz interprets the Ashokan dharma as a "religion to be used as a symbol of a new imperial unity and a cementing force to weld the diverse and heterogeneous elements of the empire".

Ashoka's Major Rock Edict is the first edict and remains in its original location and condition. Ashoka's Major Rock Edict is one of the most important Edicts of Ashoka, and is located outside the town of Junagadh on the Saurashtra peninsula in the It has not been dismantled and placed in a museum or made into a monument.

Missions to spread the Dharma/Dhamma

Ashoka was the sponsor of the third Buddhist council. The Third Buddhist council was convened in about 250 BCE at Asokarama in Patiliputta, supposedly under the patronage of Emperor Asoka. According to Theravada accounts, Ashoka supported the Vibhajjavada sub-school of the Sthaviravāda sect (which would become known by the Pali Theravada), but historians have concluded "this was clearly not the case," finding instead that the council was convened to expel non-Buddhists from the sangha in Pataliputra. History Origin of the school The Theravāda school is ultimately derived from the Vibhajjavāda (or 'doctrine of analysis' grouping which was a continuation Vibhajjavāda is an umbrella classification for Buddhist denominations that promote analysis as a primary tool for developing 'insight' (Sanskrit Prajñā Sthaviravāda ( Sanskrit; Chinese 上座部 literally means "Teaching Of The Elders" History Origin of the school The Theravāda school is ultimately derived from the Vibhajjavāda (or 'doctrine of analysis' grouping which was a continuation Paṭnā ( Hindi: पटना is the capital of the Indian state of Bihar, and one of the oldest continuously inhabited ^[8] After this council he sent Buddhist monks to spread their religion to other countries. The following table is a list of the countries he sent missionaries to, as described in the Mahavamsa, XII:^[9]

Regarding the "Country of the Yona", Ashoka further specifies in his Edict No 13 (quoted hereafter), that most Hellenistic rulers of the period received the teaching of the "Dharma". The Mahavamsa, ("Great Chronicle " is a historical poem written in the Pali language of the kings of Sri Lanka. This article is about the geographical region of greater Kashmir Gandhāra ( Sanskrit: गन्धार Urdu: گندھارا Gandḥārā; also known as Waihind in Persian is the name of an ancient Mysore (maɪˈsɔɚ in English; renamed to Mysuru|ಮೈಸೂರು) (ಮೈಸೂರು is the second largest city in the state of Karnataka, India WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Banavasi (ಬನವಾಸಿ is an ancient temple town on the border of Uttara Kannada District Karnataka (ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ pronounced) is a state in the southern part of India The Konkan (Marathi कोकण also called the Konkan Coast or Karavali, is a rugged section of the western coastline of India from Raigad "Yona" is a Pali word used in ancient India to designate Greek speakers For the teacher of Atisha, see Dharmarakshita (Sumatran. Dharmarakṣita ( Sanskrit) or Dhammarakkhita ( Pali) ( Maharashtra ( Marathi: mahārāṣṭra, IPA) is a state located on the western coast of India. "Yona" is a Pali word used in ancient India to designate Greek speakers "Bactrian" redirects here For the camel see Bactrian camel. The Seleucid Empire /sə'lusɪd/ ( 312 - 63 BC) was a Hellenistic empire i Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. Suvarṇabhumī or pali Suvaṇṇabhumī, is the name of a land mentioned in many ancient sources such as the Chronicle of Sri Lanka (" Mahavamsa " The Kingdom of Thailand (ˈtaɪlænd ราชอาณาจักรไทย, râːtɕʰa-ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k-tʰɑj Burma, officially the Union of Myanmar ( pjìdàunzṵ mjàmmà nàinŋàndɔ̀ is the largest country by geographical area in mainland Southeast Asia. Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island Mahinda ( Sanskrit: महिन्द्र Mahindra) (born 3rd century BCE in Magadha, now in Bihar, India) was a Buddhist "Yona" is a Pali word used in ancient India to designate Greek speakers The Edicts of Ashoka are a collection of 33 inscriptions on the Pillars of Ashoka, as well as boulders and cave walls made by the Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Thus, Ashoka claims to have introduced Buddhism to ancient Greece and Egypt. The term ancient Greece refers to the period of Greek history lasting from the Greek Dark Ages ca In the same Edict, Ashoka adds the Cholas and the Pandyas as recipients of the faith. Origin The origin of the word “Pandya” has been a subject of much speculation Edict number 13 lists the following rulers and countries as places where conquest by Dhamma (acceptance of Dhamma) has been won:

While some countries like the Maldives, where there is a great wealth of Buddhist archaeological remains, are not mentioned in the edicts, several of these countries are well attested recipients of Ashoka's missions (such as Sri Lanka and Thailand), lending credence to the historicity and the success of these missions. Origin The origin of the word “Pandya” has been a subject of much speculation The Maldives ( or, or Maldive Islands) officially the Republic of Maldives, is an Island nation consisting of a group of atolls stretching Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island The Kingdom of Thailand (ˈtaɪlænd ราชอาณาจักรไทย, râːtɕʰa-ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k-tʰɑj It is all the more surprising that no records of them have remained in the West.

Relations with the Hellenistic world

Some critics say that Ashoka was afraid of more wars, but among his neighbors, including the Seleucid Empire and the Greco-Bactrian kingdom established by Diodotus I, none seem to have ever come into conflict with him - though the latter eventually conquered at various times western territories in India, but only after the empire's actual collapse. The Seleucid Empire /sə'lusɪd/ ( 312 - 63 BC) was a Hellenistic empire i The Gr(aeco-Bactrian Kingdom was the easternmost part of the Hellenistic world covering Bactria and Sogdiana in Central Asia from 250 Diodotus, Seleucid Satrap of Bactria, rebelled against Antiochus II (about 255 BC and became the founder of the Graeco-Bactrian kingdom He was a contemporary of both Antiochus I Soter and his successor Antiochus II Theos of the Seleucid Dynasty as well as Diodotus I and his son Diodotus II of the Greco-Bactrian kingdom. Antiochus I Soter (unknown - 261 BC was a king of the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire. Antiochus II Theos (286 BC&ndash246 BC was a king of the Hellenistic Seleucid Kingdom who reigned 261 BC&ndash246 BC The Seleucid Empire /sə'lusɪd/ ( 312 - 63 BC) was a Hellenistic empire i Diodotus II was a Greco-Bactrian king son of Diodotus I. He is known for concluding a peace treaty with the Parthian king Arsaces, in order If his inscriptions and edicts are well studied, one finds that he was familiar with the Hellenistic world but never in awe of it. Epigraphy (ἐπιγραφολογία from Greek ἐπιγραφή — "inscription" is the study of inscriptions or epigraphs engraved An edict is an announcement of a Law, often associated with monarchism. This article focuses on the cultural aspects of the Hellenistic age for the historical aspects see Hellenistic period. The Edicts of Ashoka, which talk of friendly relations, give the names of both Antiochus of the Seleucid empire and Ptolemy III of Egypt. The Edicts of Ashoka are a collection of 33 inscriptions on the Pillars of Ashoka, as well as boulders and cave walls made by the Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Ptolemy III Euergetes, ( Greek: Πτολεμαῖος Εὐεργέτης, Ptolemaĩos Euergétēs, reigned 246 BC&ndash222 BC was the third ruler This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. But the fame of the Mauryan empire was widespread from the time that Ashoka's grandfather Chandragupta Maurya met Seleucus Nicator, the founder of the Seleucid Dynasty, and engineered their celebrated peace. Chandragupta Maurya (चन्द्रगुप्त मौर्य sometimes known simply as Chandragupta (born c Seleucus I (surnamed for later generations Nicator, Greek: Σέλευκος Νικάτωρ, i The Seleucid Empire /sə'lusɪd/ ( 312 - 63 BC) was a Hellenistic empire i Chandragupta even supplied 500 elephants to Seleucus, which were critical to his success in his conflict with the Western dynast Antigonus, in exchange for peace (a state that would endure for as long as the Mauryan Empire existed, and was even renewed during the Eastern campaigns of Antiochus III the Great) and the latter's territories in India. Antiochus III the Great, ( Greek; ca 241&ndash187 BC ruled 222&ndash187 BC younger son of Seleucus II Callinicus

Greek populations in India

Greek populations apparently remained in the northwest of the Indian subcontinent under Ashoka's rule. In his Edicts of Ashoka, set in stone, some of them written in Greek, Ashoka describes that Greek populations within his realm converted to Buddhism:

Here in the king's domain among the Greeks, the Kambojas, the Nabhakas, the Nabhapamkits, the Bhojas, the Pitinikas, the Andhras and the Palidas, everywhere people are following Beloved-of-the-Gods' instructions in Dharma. The Edicts of Ashoka are a collection of 33 inscriptions on the Pillars of Ashoka, as well as boulders and cave walls made by the Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan The Kambojas were a Kshatriya Tribe of Iron Age India, frequently mentioned in ( post-Vedic) Sanskrit and Pali literature The Sanskrit term ( Devanāgarī: धर्म Pali transliteration dhamma) is an Indian spiritual and religious

— Edicts of Ashoka, Rock Edict Nb13 (S. The Edicts of Ashoka are a collection of 33 inscriptions on the Pillars of Ashoka, as well as boulders and cave walls made by the Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Ashoka's Major Rock Edict is one of the most important Edicts of Ashoka, and is located outside the town of Junagadh on the Saurashtra peninsula in the Dhammika)

Bilingual edict (Greek and Aramaic) by king Ashoka, from Kandahar - Afghan National Museum. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly Aramaic is a Semitic language with For the 2001 film see Kandahar (film; for the Kandahar meteorite of 1959 see Meteorite falls; for the places in Azerbaijan see Cəndəhar and Kabul Museum is the national museum of Afghanistan. It is a two-story building located in the historic city of Kabul and was built (Click image for translation).

Fragments of Edict 13 have been found in Greek, and a full Edict, written in both Greek and Aramaic, has been discovered in Kandahar. For the 2001 film see Kandahar (film; for the Kandahar meteorite of 1959 see Meteorite falls; for the places in Azerbaijan see Cəndəhar and It is said to be written in excellent Classical Greek, using sophisticated philosophical terms. In this Edict, Ashoka uses the word Eusebeia ("Piety") as the Greek translation for the ubiquitous "Dharma" of his other Edicts written in Prakrit:

Ten years (of reign) having been completed, King Piodasses (Πιοδάσσης, Ashoka) made known (the doctrine of) Piety (εὐσέβεια, Eusebeia) to men; and from this moment he has made men more pious, and everything thrives throughout the whole world. Eusebeia (Greekεὐσέβεια from eu meaning "well" and sebomai meaning "reverence" itself formed from seb meaning sacred awe In spiritual terminology piety is a Virtue. While different people may understand its meaning differently it is generally used to refer either to religious devotion The Sanskrit term ( Devanāgarī: धर्म Pali transliteration dhamma) is an Indian spiritual and religious Prakrit (also transliterated as Pracrit) ( Sanskrit: prākṛta प्राकृत (from pra-kṛti प्रकृति according to one Eusebeia (Greekεὐσέβεια from eu meaning "well" and sebomai meaning "reverence" itself formed from seb meaning sacred awe And the king abstains from (killing) living beings, and other men and those who (are) huntsmen and fishermen of the king have desisted from hunting. And if some (were) intemperate, they have ceased from their intemperance as was in their power; and obedient to their father and mother and to the elders, in opposition to the past also in the future, by so acting on every occasion, they will live better and more happily.

— Ashoka the Great, Edicts of Ashoka (Trans. The Edicts of Ashoka are a collection of 33 inscriptions on the Pillars of Ashoka, as well as boulders and cave walls made by the Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan by G. P. Carratelli [4])

Exchange of Ambassadors

Ptolemy II Philadelphus, the ruler of Ptolemaic Egypt and contemporary of Ashoka, is recorded by Pliny the Elder as having sent an ambassador named Dionysius to the Mauryan court at Pataliputra in India:

But [India] has been treated of by several other Greek writers who resided at the courts of Indian kings, such, for instance, as Megasthenes, and by Dionysius, who was sent thither by Philadelphus, expressly for the purpose: all of whom have enlarged upon the power and vast resources of these nations. Ptolemy II Philadelphus ( Greek:, Ptolemaĩos Philádelphos, 309 BC&ndash246 BC was the king of Ptolemaic Egypt from 283 BC to 246 BC Ptolemaic Egypt began when Ptolemy I Soter declared himself Pharaoh of Egypt in 305 BC and ended with the death of queen Cleopatra Gaius or Caius Plinius Secundus, ( AD 23 – August 25, AD 79 better known as Pliny the Elder, was an ancient Author Dionysius was a Greek of the 3rd century BCE who was sent as ambassador to the court of the Indian emperor Ashoka, by Ptolemy Philadelphus. The Maurya Empire ( 322 – 185 BCE) ruled by the Mauryan dynasty was a geographically extensive and powerful political and military Paṭnā ( Hindi: पटना is the capital of the Indian state of Bihar, and one of the oldest continuously inhabited India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country

— Pliny the Elder, The Natural History, Chap. Gaius or Caius Plinius Secundus, ( AD 23 – August 25, AD 79 better known as Pliny the Elder, was an ancient Author Naturalis Historia ( Latin for "Natural History" is an Encyclopedia written Circa AD 77 by Pliny the Elder. 21^[10]

Buddhist Conversion

At the time of king Ashoka (260-218 BC), according to his Edicts. Events By place Roman Republic The Roman advance continues westward from Agrigentum with their forces relieving the besieged Events By place Carthage A Carthaginian army under Hannibal attacks Rome's Spanish allies The Edicts of Ashoka are a collection of 33 inscriptions on the Pillars of Ashoka, as well as boulders and cave walls made by the Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan

Also, in the Edicts of Ashoka, Ashoka mentions the Hellenistic kings of the period as a convert to Buddhist, although no Hellenic historical record of this event remain:

The conquest by Dharma has been won here, on the borders, and even six hundred yojanas (5,400-9,600 km) away, where the Greek king Antiochos rules, beyond there where the four kings named Ptolemy, Antigonos, Magas and Alexander rule, likewise in the south among the Cholas, the Pandyas, and as far as Tamraparni (Sri Lanka). The Edicts of Ashoka are a collection of 33 inscriptions on the Pillars of Ashoka, as well as boulders and cave walls made by the Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices The Sanskrit term ( Devanāgarī: धर्म Pali transliteration dhamma) is an Indian spiritual and religious A yojana (Hindi: योजन) is a Vedic measure of distance used in ancient India. Antiochus II Theos (286 BC&ndash246 BC was a king of the Hellenistic Seleucid Kingdom who reigned 261 BC&ndash246 BC Ptolemy II Philadelphus ( Greek:, Ptolemaĩos Philádelphos, 309 BC&ndash246 BC was the king of Ptolemaic Egypt from 283 BC to 246 BC Antigonus II Gonatas (lit "knock-knees" ( Greek Αντίγονος B΄ Γονατᾶς ca Magas of Cyrene (r 276 - 250 BCE was a Greek king of Cyrene (today's Libya) Alexander II was a king of Epirus, and the son of Pyrrhus and Lanassa the daughter of the Sicilian tyrant Agathocles. Origin The origin of the word “Pandya” has been a subject of much speculation Tamraparni is an ancient region of southern India corresponding to the area of a Tamraparni river in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island

— Ashoka the Great, Edicts of Ashoka, Rock Edict 13 (S. The Edicts of Ashoka are a collection of 33 inscriptions on the Pillars of Ashoka, as well as boulders and cave walls made by the Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Ashoka's Major Rock Edict is one of the most important Edicts of Ashoka, and is located outside the town of Junagadh on the Saurashtra peninsula in the Dhammika)

Ashoka also claims that he encouraged the development of herbal medicine, for human and nonhuman animals, in their territories:

Everywhere within Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi's [Ashoka's] domain, and among the people beyond the borders, the Cholas, the Pandyas, the Satiyaputras, the Keralaputras, as far as Tamraparni and where the Greek king Antiochos rules, and among the kings who are neighbors of Antiochos, everywhere has Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, made provision for two types of medical treatment: medical treatment for humans and medical treatment for animals. Herbalism is a traditional Medicinal or Folk medicine practice based on the use of Plants and Plant extracts Herbalism is also known as Origin The origin of the word “Pandya” has been a subject of much speculation Tamraparni is an ancient region of southern India corresponding to the area of a Tamraparni river in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. Antiochus II Theos (286 BC&ndash246 BC was a king of the Hellenistic Seleucid Kingdom who reigned 261 BC&ndash246 BC Wherever medical herbs suitable for humans or animals are not available, I have had them imported and grown. Wherever medical roots or fruits are not available I have had them imported and grown. Along roads I have had wells dug and trees planted for the benefit of humans and animals.

— Ashoka the Great, Edicts of Ashoka, Rock Edict 2

The Greeks in India even seem to have played an active role in the propagation of Buddhism, as some of the emissaries of Ashoka, such as Dharmaraksita, are described in Pali sources as leading Greek ("Yona") Buddhist monks, active in spreading Buddhism (the Mahavamsa, XII^[9]). The Edicts of Ashoka are a collection of 33 inscriptions on the Pillars of Ashoka, as well as boulders and cave walls made by the Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Ashoka's Major Rock Edict is one of the most important Edicts of Ashoka, and is located outside the town of Junagadh on the Saurashtra peninsula in the For the teacher of Atisha, see Dharmarakshita (Sumatran. Dharmarakṣita ( Sanskrit) or Dhammarakkhita ( Pali) ( Pali ( ISO 15919 / ALA-LC: Pāḷi is a Middle Indo-Aryan language or Prakrit of India. "Yona" is a Pali word used in ancient India to designate Greek speakers The Mahavamsa, ("Great Chronicle " is a historical poem written in the Pali language of the kings of Sri Lanka.

Marital alliance

A "marital alliance" had been concluded between Seleucus Nicator and Ashoka's grandfather Chandragupta Maurya in 303 BC:

He (Seleucus) crossed the Indus and waged war with Sandrocottus [Maurya], king of the Indians, who dwelt on the banks of that stream, until they came to an understanding with each other and contracted a marriage relationship. Seleucus I (surnamed for later generations Nicator, Greek: Σέλευκος Νικάτωρ, i Chandragupta Maurya (चन्द्रगुप्त मौर्य sometimes known simply as Chandragupta (born c

— Appian, History of Rome, The Syrian Wars 55^[11]

The term used in ancient sources (Epigamia) could refer either to a dynastic alliance between the Seleucids and the Mauryas, or more generally to a recognition of marriage between Indian and Greeks. In ancient Greece Epigamia (Greek language Επιγαμια designated the legal right to contract a marriage Since there are no records of an Indian princess in the abundant Classical literature on the Seleucid, it is generally thought that the alliance went the other way around, and that a Seleucid princess may have been bethrothed to the Mauryan Dynasty. This practice in itself was quite common in the Hellenistic world to formalize alliances. There is thus a possibility that Ashoka was partly of Hellenic descent, either from his grandmother if Chandragupta married the Seleucid princess, of from his mother if Chandragupta's son, Bindusura, was the object of the marriage. This remains a hypothesis as there are no known more detailed descriptions of the exact nature of the marital alliance, although this is quite symptomatic of the generally good relationship between the Hellenistic world and Ashoka. ^[12]

Historical sources

Main articles: Edicts of Ashoka and Ashokavadana

Information about the life and reign of Ashoka primarily comes from a relatively small number of Buddhist sources. The Edicts of Ashoka are a collection of 33 inscriptions on the Pillars of Ashoka, as well as boulders and cave walls made by the Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan The Ashokavadana ( Sanskrit: अशॊकवदन "Narrative of Ashoka" is a 2nd century CE document related to the legend of the Maurya Emperor Ashoka In particular, the Sanskrit Ashokavadana ('Story of Ashoka'), written in the 2nd century, and the two Pāli chronicles of Sri Lanka (the Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa) provide most of the currently known information about Asoka. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical The Ashokavadana ( Sanskrit: अशॊकवदन "Narrative of Ashoka" is a 2nd century CE document related to the legend of the Maurya Emperor Ashoka Pali ( ISO 15919 / ALA-LC: Pāḷi is a Middle Indo-Aryan language or Prakrit of India. Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island The Dipavamsa, or "Deepavamsa" (ie Chronicle of the Island in Pali) is the oldest historical record of Sri Lanka. The Mahavamsa, ("Great Chronicle " is a historical poem written in the Pali language of the kings of Sri Lanka. Additional information is contributed by the Edicts of Asoka, whose authorship was finally attributed to the Ashoka of Buddhist legend after the discovery of dynastic lists that gave the name used in the edicts (Priyadarsi – meaning 'favored by the Gods') as a title or additional name of Ashoka Mauriya. The Edicts of Ashoka are a collection of 33 inscriptions on the Pillars of Ashoka, as well as boulders and cave walls made by the Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan

The use of Buddhist sources in reconstructing the life of Ashoka has had a strong influence on perceptions of Ashoka, and the interpretations of his edicts. Building on traditional accounts, early scholars regarded Ashoka as a primarily Buddhist monarch who underwent a conversion to Buddhism and was actively engaged in sponsoring and supporting the Buddhist monastic institution.

Later scholars have tended to question this assessment. The only source of information not attributable to Buddhist sources – the Ashokan edicts – make only a few references to Buddhism directly, despite many references to the concept of dhamma (Sanskrit: dharma). Dhamma ( Pāli: धम्म or Dharma (धर्म in Buddhism has two primary meanings the teachings of the Buddha which lead to enlightenment The Sanskrit term ( Devanāgarī: धर्म Pali transliteration dhamma) is an Indian spiritual and religious Some interpreters have seen this as an indication that Ashoka was attempting to craft an inclusive, poly-religious civil religion for his empire that was centered on the concept of dharma as a positive moral force, but which did not embrace or advocate any particular philosophy attributable to the religious movements of Ashoka's age (such as the Hindus, Jains, Buddhists, and Ajivikas). A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical Jainism, traditionally known as Jain Dharma / Shraman Dharma (जैन धर्म is an ancient religion of India. Ājīvika (also written Ajivika or Ajivaka) was an ancient philosophical and ascetic movement of the Indian subcontinent

Most likely, the complex religious environment of the age would have required careful diplomatic management in order to avoid provoking religious unrest. Modern scholars and adherents of the traditional Buddhist perspective both tend to agree that Ashoka's rule was marked by tolerance towards a number of religious faiths.

Death and legacy

Ashoka's Major Rock Edict inscription at Girnar

Ashoka ruled for an estimated forty years, and after his death, the Maurya dynasty lasted just fifty more years. Ashoka's Major Rock Edict is one of the most important Edicts of Ashoka, and is located outside the town of Junagadh on the Saurashtra peninsula in the Girnar (also known as "Girnar Hill" is a collection of mountains in the Junagadh District of Gujarat, India. Ashoka had many wives and children, but their names are lost to time. Mahindra and Sanghamitra were twins born by his fourth wife, Devi, in the city of Ujjain. Mahinda ( Sanskrit: महिन्द्र Mahindra) (born 3rd century BCE in Magadha, now in Bihar, India) was a Buddhist See also Ashoka Bhikkhuni Sri Maha Bodhi Devi ( Devanagari: देवी) is the Sanskrit word for Goddess, used mostly in Hinduism. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Ujjain ( Hindi:उज्जैन (also known as Ujain, Ujjayini, Avanti He had entrusted to them the job of making his state religion, Buddhism, more popular across the known and the unknown world. Mahindra and Sanghamitra went into Sri Lanka and converted the King, the Queen and their people to Buddhism. See also Ashoka Bhikkhuni Sri Maha Bodhi Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island So they were naturally not the ones handling state affairs after him.

In his old age, he seems to have come under the spell of his youngest wife Tishyaraksha. Tishyaraksha was one of the wives of emperor Ashoka, who was the ruler of much of the Indian subcontinent. It is said that she had got his son Kunala, the regent in Takshashila, blinded by a wily stratagem. For the Genus of metalmark butterflies, see Taxila (butterfly. But the official executioners spared Kunala and he became a wandering singer accompanied by his favourite wife Kanchanmala. In Pataliputra, Ashoka hears Kunala's song, and realizes that Kunala's misfortune may have been a punishment for some past sin of the emperor himself and condemns Tishyaraksha to death, restoring Kunala to the court. Paṭnā ( Hindi: पटना is the capital of the Indian state of Bihar, and one of the oldest continuously inhabited Kunala was succeeded by his son, Samprati, but his rule did not last long after Ashoka's death. Samrat Samprati was the son of Ashoka 's blind son Kunal He succeeded Dasaratha Maurya as emperor of the Mauryan Empire and ruled almost the entire

Ashokan Pillar at Vaishali

This is the famous original sandstone sculpted Lion Capital of Ashoka preserved at Sarnath Museum which was originally erected around 250 BCE atop an Ashoka Pillar at Sarnath. Vaishali or Vesali ( Pali) was a city the capital of the Licchavis and the Vajjian Confederacy. The Lion capital of Ashoka is a sculpture of four " Indian lions quot standing back to back Sarnath has yielded a rich collection of sculptures artifacts and edifices comprising numerous Buddha and Bodhisattva images and other ancient remains Events By place Egypt Ptolemy II encourages the Jewish residents of Alexandria to have their Bible translated The pillars of Ashoka are a series of columns dispersed throughout the northern Indian subcontinent and erected by the Mauryan king Ashoka during his reign in This article is about a place in India For H P Lovecraft 's fictitious city see The Doom That Came to Sarnath. The angle from which this picture has been taken, minus the inverted bell-shaped lotus flower, has been adopted as the National Emblem of India showing the Horse on the left and the Bull on the right of the Ashoka Chakra in the circular base on which the four Indian lions are standing back to back. The inverted bell is a Metaphorical name for Geometric shape that resembles a bell upside down Nelumbo nucifera is known by a number of common names including Indian lotus, sacred lotus, bean of India, and sacred water-lily The Emblem of India is an adaptation from the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka. This article is about Ashoka Chakra a symbol For information about Ashoka Chakra the Award see Ashoka Chakra Award The Ashoka Chakra The Asiatic Lion ( Panthera leo persica) is a subspecies of the Lion which survives today only in India where it is also known as the Indian lion On the far side there is an Elephant and a Lion instead. The wheel "Ashoka Chakra" from its base has been placed onto the center of the National Flag of India. "Indian flag" redirects here For flags used by Native American peoples see the tribes' respective articles, for example the Navajo Nation.

The reign of Ashoka Maurya could easily have disappeared into history as the ages passed by, and would have, had he not left behind a record of his trials. The testimony of this wise king was discovered in the form of magnificently sculpted pillars and boulders with a variety of actions and teachings he wished to be published etched into the stone. What Ashoka left behind was the first written language in India since the ancient city of Harappa. Harappa ( Urdu:, Hindi: हड़प्पा) is a City in Punjab, northeast Pakistan, about 35km (22 miles southwest Rather than Sanskrit, the language used for inscription was the current spoken form called Prakrit. Prakrit (also transliterated as Pracrit) ( Sanskrit: prākṛta प्राकृत (from pra-kṛti प्रकृति according to one

In the year 185 BC, about fifty years after Ashoka's death, the last Maurya ruler, Brhadrata, was brutally murdered by the commander-in-chief of the Mauryan armed forces, Pusyamitra Sunga, while he was taking the Guard of Honor of his forces. Events By place Roman Republic The Roman general Scipio Africanus and his brother Lucius are accused by Cato Pusyamitra Sunga (B ??? R 185-151 BCE D 151 BCE was the founder and first King of the Sunga Dynasty in Northern India Pusyamitra Sunga founded the Sunga dynasty (185 BC-78 BC) and ruled just a fragmented part of the Mauryan Empire. For other uses of the term Sunga see Sunga (disambiguation The Sunga Empire (or Shunga Empire) is a Magadha Events By place Roman Republic The Roman general Scipio Africanus and his brother Lucius are accused by Cato Year 78 BC was a year of the pre-Julian calendar. Events By place Rome In Rome, Marcus Aemilius Lepidus Much of the northwestern territories of the Mauryan Empire (modern-day Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan) became the Indo-Greek Kingdom. The Indo-Greek Kingdom (or sometimes Graeco-Indian Kingdom) covered various parts of the northwest and northern Indian subcontinent during the last two centuries

When India gained independence from the British Empire it adopted Ashoka's emblem for its own, placing the Dharmachakra(The Wheel of Righteous Duty) that crowned his many columns on the flag of the newly independent state. The British Empire was the largest empire in history and for over a century was the foremost global power. The Dharmachakra ( Sanskrit) or Dhammachakka ( Pāli) Tibetan chos kyi 'khor lo, Chinese fălún 法輪 "Indian flag" redirects here For flags used by Native American peoples see the tribes' respective articles, for example the Navajo Nation.

In 1992, Ashoka was ranked #53 on Michael H. Hart's list of the most influential figures in history. Michael H Hart (born April 28, 1932 in New York City) is an Astrophysicist who has also written three books on History and controversial The 100 A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History is a 1978 book by Michael H In 2001, a semi-fictionalized portrayal of Ashoka's life was produced as a motion picture under the title Asoka. Asoka ( Devanagari: अशोक Urdu: اشوک is a 2001 Bollywood Film, a historical drama

Buddhist Kingship

Main article: History of Buddhism

One of the more enduring legacies of Ashoka Maurya was the model that he provided for the relationship between the Buddhism and state. The History of Buddhism spans the 6th century BCE to the present starting with the birth of the Buddha Siddhartha Gautama. Throughout Theravada Southeastern Asia, the model of rulership embodied by Ashoka replaced the notion of divine kingship that had previously dominated (in the Angkor kingdom, for instance). Angkor is a name conventionally applied to the region of Cambodia serving as the seat of the Khmer empire that flourished from approximately the 9th century to Under this model of 'Buddhist kingship', the king sought to legitimize his rule not through descent from a divine source, but by supporting and earning the approval of the Buddhist sangha. This article concerns the concept of Sangha in Buddhism. For information on other senses see Sangha (disambiguation. Following Ashoka's example, kings established monasteries, funded the construction of stupas, and supported the ordination of monks in their kingdom. Many rulers also took an active role in resolving disputes over the status and regulation of the sangha, as Ashoka had in calling a conclave to settle a number of contentious issues during his reign. 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. Buddhism in Thailand is largely of the Theravada school Nearly 95% of Thailand 's population is Buddhist of the Theravada school though Buddhism

Ashoka also said that all his courtiers were true to their self and governed the people in a moral manner.

In popular culture

• Asoka is a largely fictionalized film based on his life. Asoka ( Devanagari: अशोक Urdu: اشوک is a 2001 Bollywood Film, a historical drama
• In some conspiracy theories Ashoka is mentioned as the founder of a powerful secret society called the Nine Unknown Men. A conspiracy theory attributes the ultimate cause of an event or chain of events (usually Political, Social or Historical events or the concealment According to occult lore the Nine Unknown Men are a two millennia-old Secret society founded by the Indian Emperor Asoka c
• Ashoka is a civilization leader in the PC video game Civilization 4. A video game is a Game that involves interaction with a User interface to generate visual feedback on a video device. Sid Meier's Civilization IV ( Civilization 4 or Civ4) is a Turn-based strategy computer game released in In the game, he is one of two leaders of the Indian Empire,the other being Gandhi. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi ( Gujarati: મોહનદાસ કરમચંદ ગાંધી moɦən̪d̪äs kəɾəmʧən̪d̪ gän̪d̪ʱi (2 October 1869 – 30 January
• In Piers Anthony's series of space opera novels, Bio of a Space Tyrant, the protagonist repeatedly mentions Asoka as a model for rulers to strive for. Piers Anthony Dillingham Jacob (born August 6, 1934 in Oxford England) is an English American writer in the Science fiction Space opera is a subgenre of Speculative fiction or Science fiction that emphasizes romantic, often Melodramatic adventure set mainly or entirely Bio of a Space Tyrant series is a six-book science-fiction series by Piers Anthony based within the Solar system.
• Air India's first 747 aircraft was named after Emperor Ashoka. Air India Limited ( एअर इंडिया) is the national Airline of India with a worldwide network of passenger and cargo services
• The Blake and Mortimer two-part album Les Sarcophages du Sixième Continent revolves around the sinister plot of a person posing as a resurrected Ashoka. Blake and Mortimer is a Belgian comics series created by the Belgian writer and Comics artist Edgar P

See also

• Arthashastra
• Ashoka's Major Rock Edict
• Ashokavadana
• Bindusara Maurya
• Buddhism
• Chandragupta Maurya
• Chanakya
• Chakravarti
• Dasaratha Maurya
• Edicts of Ashoka
• Hinduism
• Jaugada
• Kalinga War
• Lion Capital of Ashoka
• Magadha
• Maurya Empire
• Sisupalgarh
• History of India
• History of Hinduism
• History of Buddhism
• History of Maldives
• List of Indian monarchs
• List of people known as The Great

Sources

• Swearer, Donald. The Arthashastra ( IAST: Arthaśāstra) is a Treatise on statecraft, economic policy and Military strategy which Ashoka's Major Rock Edict is one of the most important Edicts of Ashoka, and is located outside the town of Junagadh on the Saurashtra peninsula in the The Ashokavadana ( Sanskrit: अशॊकवदन "Narrative of Ashoka" is a 2nd century CE document related to the legend of the Maurya Emperor Ashoka Bindusara was the second Mauryan emperor (Born c 320 BC ruled 298 - c Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Chandragupta Maurya (चन्द्रगुप्त मौर्य sometimes known simply as Chandragupta (born c Chanakya Sanskrit: चाणक्य Cāṇakya) (c 350-283 BC was an adviser and a Prime minister to the first Maurya Emperor A Chakravartin (sa चक्रवर्तिन् cakra-vartin, a Sanskrit Bahuvrihi, literally "whose wheels are moving" in the sense of Dasaratha Maurya was Emperor of the Mauryan Empire from 232 BC to 224 BC The Edicts of Ashoka are a collection of 33 inscriptions on the Pillars of Ashoka, as well as boulders and cave walls made by the Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Jaugada, ruined fortress Dist Ganjam / Orissa /India (19°31'21 The Kalinga War ( Sanskrit: कलिन्ग युध्धम् was a war fought between the Mauryan Empire under Ashoka the Great and the state of The Lion capital of Ashoka is a sculpture of four " Indian lions quot standing back to back Magadha (मगध formed one of the sixteen Mahājanapadas ( Sanskrit, "great countries" or regions in ancient India. The Maurya Empire ( 322 – 185 BCE) ruled by the Mauryan dynasty was a geographically extensive and powerful political and military Sisupalgarh or Sishupalgarh are ruined fortification in Khurda District in Orissa, India. This article is about the history of South Asia prior to the Partition of British India in 1947 Hinduism is an umbrella term for a wide variety of related religious traditions native to India. The History of Buddhism spans the 6th century BCE to the present starting with the birth of the Buddha Siddhartha Gautama. The Maldives is a nation consisting of 26 natural Atolls, comprising 1192 islands Historical setting Since very ancient times the Maldives were ruled The following list of Indian monarchs is one of several Lists of incumbents. This is a list of people whose names in English are commonly appended with the phrase " the Great " or who were called that or an equivalent phrase in their own Buddhism and Society in Southeast Asia (Chambersburg, Pennsylvania: Anima Books, 1981) ISBN 0-89012-023-4

• Thapar, Romila. Aśoka and the decline of the Mauryas (Delhi : Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997, 1998 printing, c1961) ISBN 0-19-564445-X

• Nilakanta Sastri, K. A. Age of the Nandas and Mauryas (Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass, [1967] c1952) ISBN 0-89684-167-7

• Bongard-Levin, G. M. Mauryan India (Stosius Inc/Advent Books Division May 1986) ISBN 0-86590-826-5

• Govind Gokhale, Balkrishna. Asoka Maurya (Irvington Pub June 1966) ISBN 0-8290-1735-6

• Chand Chauhan, Gian. Origin and Growth of Feudalism in Early India: From the Mauryas to AD 650 (Munshiram Manoharlal January 2004) ISBN 81-215-1028-7

• Keay, John. India: A History (Grove Press; 1 Grove Pr edition May 10, 2001) ISBN 0-8021-3797-0

• Falk, Harry. Events 1291 - Scottish Nobles recognize the authority of Edward I of England. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Asokan Sites and Artefacts - A Source-book with Bibliography (Mainz : Philipp von Zabern, [2006]) ISBN 978-3-8053-3712-0

Notes

External links

• Asoka the Great

• King Asoka and Buddhism. Historical and Literary studies
• Detailed biography, including key dates in Ashoka's Life
• The life of Asoka Maurya