The Reign of Ashoka (273-232 BC) PRESENTED BY….. Subhasish Das Dept.- EE Class Roll No.- 11/EE/4019 WBUT Roll No.- 14801611055 WBUT Registration No.- 111480110461

TABLE OF CONTENT Introduction Buddhist Conversion Family Background Mission to Spread Buddhism Personal Information Death and Legacy Rise to Power The Edicts of King Ashoka Questionable Hereditary Succession Conclusion Early Life as Emperor Bibliography Conquest of Kalinga A Sudden Change of Heart

INTRODUCTION The high point of the Mauryan empire Conquered the kingdom of Kalinga, 260 BC. Ruled through tightly organized bureaucracy Established capital at Pataliputra Policies of encouraging agriculture and trade Dedicated his life to Buddhism. Built Extensive roads. Conflict  How to balance Kautilya’s method of keeping power and Buddha’s demands to become a selfless person?

FAMILY BACKGROUND Born in 304 BC to the mauryan emperor bindusara and his queen, dharma [or dhamma]. The grandson of chandragupta maurya, founder of mauryan dynasty. Although dharma was of priestly lineage, the fact that she was not royal by birth made her a very low-status consort in the harem. Had several elder siblings, whom were his half-brothers from other wives of bindusara. One younger sibling, vitthashoka, another son of dharma.

PERSONAL INFORMATION Quickly grew into an excellent warrior His command on the mauryan army started growing day by day His elder brothers became suspicious of him being favoured as the next emperor. The eldest son of bindusara, prince susima, convinced him to send asoka to takshashila Went to kalinga, where he met a fisherwoman named kaurwaki.

RISE TO POWER Ashoka was stationed at ujjayini as governor. Bindusara's death in 273 bc led to a war over succession Ashoka was supported by his father's ministers. Ashoka managed to become the king by getting rid of the legitimate heir to the throne Tricking him into entering a pit filled with live coals.

Questionable Hereditary Succession Bindusara became gravely ill Ashoka killed 99 of his brothers, sparing only one, named tissa The coronation happened in 269 BC, four years after his succession to the throne Eliminated his own brothers so that he could succeed his father

Early Life as Emperor Ashoka was anointed the new emperor or ruler of the mauryan empire in 274 BC He is said to have been of a wicked nature and bad temper Built hell on earth, an elaborate and horrific torture chamber Earned him the name of chand ashoka (sanskrit), meaning ashoka the fierce Expanded his empire over the next eight years

Conquest of Kalinga

Continued..... Began in the 8th year of Ashoka's reign, probably in 261 BC After a bloody battle, Ashoka tried to annex kalinga In the aftermath of the battle of kalinga the daya river running next to the battle field turned red with the blood of the slain 100,000 kalinga civilians and more than 10,000 of ashoka's own warriors were among those slain

A Sudden Change of Heart After the battle in a tour of city, he could see nothing except burnt houses and scattered corpses. This sight made him sick and he cried the famous monologue: What have I done? If this is a victory, what's a defeat then? Is this a victory or a defeat? Is this justice or injustice? Is it gallantry or a rout? Is it valor to kill innocent children and women? Do I do it to widen the empire and for prosperity or to destroy the other's kingdom and splendor? One has lost her husband, someone else a father, someone a child, someone an unborn infant.... What's this debris of the corpses? Are these marks of victory or defeat? Are these vultures, crows, eagles the messengers of death or evil?

Continued….. The mammoth loss of life and suffering witnessed on the battlefield made him turn away from war He felt that he was the cause of the destruction His queen, Devi, who was a Buddhist, left him after seeing the brutality at Kalinga Ashoka realized the consequences of wars and battles

BUDDHIST CONVERSION The brutality of the conquest led Ashoka to adopt Buddhism Embraced buddhism under the brahmin buddhist sages, radhaswami and manjushri He made buddhism his state religion around 260 BC Can be credited with making the first serious attempt to develop a Buddhist policy Propagated and preached it within his domain and worldwide from about 250 BC

Missions to Spread Buddhism He sent his missionaries to the following places: Kashmir-Gandhara Majjhantika "Country of the Yona" (Bactria/ Seleucid Empire) - Maharakkhita Himavanta (Nepal) - Majjhima Mahisamandala (Mysore) - Mahadeva Suvannabhumi (Thailand/ Myanmar) - Sona and Uttara Vanavasi (Tamil Nadu) - Rakkhita Lankadipa (Sri Lanka) - Mahamahinda Maharattha (Maharashtra) - Mahadhammarakkhita Aparantaka (Gujarat and Sindh) - Yona Dhammarakkhita

DEATH & LEGACY Ashoka ruled for an estimated forty years He had numerous wives and many heirs but most of their name are lost He had entrusted to Mahindra and Sanghamitra the job of making his state religion Ashoka died in 232 BC After his death, the Mauryan dynasty lasted just fifty more years

The Edicts of King Ashoka The Rock Edicts - THE FOURTEEN ROCK EDICTS KALINGA ROCK EDICTS MINOR ROCK EDICTS THE SEVEN PILLAR EDICTS MINOR PILLAR EDICTS The pillars of Ashoka were erected by him during his reign in the 3rd century BC The Stupas of Sanchi are world famous and the stupa named SanchiStupa was built by Emperor Ashoka 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”.

ROCK EDICTS OF AHOKA Elephant at Kalinga war site-Orissa Minor Rock Edict site- Madhya Pradesh Rock Edict at Junagadh Major Rock Edict at Girnar, Gujarat

CONCLUSION Right from his childhood days Ashoka showed great promise in the field of weaponry skills as well as academics Although Ashoka was known as Cruel Ashoka but He felt that he was the cause of the destruction which made him turn away from war and adopt Buddhism In fact, he can be credited with making the first serious attempt to develop a Buddhist policy. Buddhism received a significant boost of popularity when Ashoka converted to Buddhism. Throughout his life, 'Asoka the Great' followed the policy of nonviolence He is acclaimed for constructing hospitals for animals and renovating major roads throughout India. After this transformation, Ashoka came to be known as Dhammashoka Ashoka tried to make the lives better and Ashoka is honored today

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