NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Ashoka

Emperor Ashoka the Great (Devanagari: अशोक(:); IAST transliteration: Aśoka(ḥ), pronunciation: [aɕoːkə(h^ə)]) (304 BC–232 BC) (Imperial Title:"Devanampiya Piyadassi" ie "He who is the beloved of the Gods who, in turn is his loving servant") was the ruler of the Maurya Empire from 273 BC to 232 BC. After a number of military conquests, Ashoka reigned over most of South Asia and beyond, from present-day Afghanistan and parts of Persia in the west, to Bengal and Assam in the east, and as far south as Mysore. A follower of Buddhism, Ashoka established monuments marking several significant sites in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha, and according to Buddhist tradition was closely involved in the preservation and transmission of Buddhism. Image File history File links Ashoka2. ... Magadha was one of the four main kingdoms of India at the time of Buddha, having risen to power during the reigns of Bimbisara (c. ... An emperor is a (male) monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. ... Dasaratha Maurya was a king of the Mauryan empire, ruling 232 - 224 BC. He was the successor of Ashoka the Great. ... Centuries: 4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC Decades: 320s BC 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC 280s BC - 270s BC - 260s BC 250s BC 240s BC 230s BC 220s BC 278 BC 277 BC 276 BC 275 BC 274 BC - 273 BC - 272 BC 271 BC 270... Centuries: 4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC Decades: 280s BC 270s BC 260s BC 250s BC 240s BC - 230s BC - 220s BC 210s BC 200s BC 190s BC 180s BC Years: 237 BC 236 BC 235 BC 234 BC 233 BC - 232 BC - 231 BC 230 BC... ... Combatants Mauryan Empire state of Kalinga Commanders Ashoka Unknown Strength Unknown large quantity Unknown small quantity Casualties 10,000 (approx. ... च् + छ = च्छ Devanagari in Unicode The Unicode range for Devanagari is U+0900 . ... IAST, or International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration is the academic standard for writing the Sanskrit language with the Latin alphabet and very similar to National Library at Calcutta romanization standard being used with many Indic scripts. ... Centuries: 5th century BC - 4th century BC - 3rd century BC Decades: 350s BC 340s BC 330s BC 320s BC 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC 280s BC 270s BC 260s BC 250s BC 309 BC 308 BC 307 BC 306 BC 305 BC 304 BC 303 BC 302 BC 301... Centuries: 4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC Decades: 280s BC 270s BC 260s BC 250s BC 240s BC - 230s BC - 220s BC 210s BC 200s BC 190s BC 180s BC Years: 237 BC 236 BC 235 BC 234 BC 233 BC - 232 BC - 231 BC 230 BC... The Maurya Empire at its largest extent. ... Centuries: 4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC Decades: 320s BC 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC 280s BC - 270s BC - 260s BC 250s BC 240s BC 230s BC 220s BC 278 BC 277 BC 276 BC 275 BC 274 BC - 273 BC - 272 BC 271 BC 270... Centuries: 4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC Decades: 280s BC 270s BC 260s BC 250s BC 240s BC - 230s BC - 220s BC 210s BC 200s BC 190s BC 180s BC Years: 237 BC 236 BC 235 BC 234 BC 233 BC - 232 BC - 231 BC 230 BC... Map of South Asia (see note on Kashmir) South Asia, also Southern Asia, is a southern geopolitical region of the Asian continent comprising territories on and in proximity to the Indian subcontinent. ... Motto: Persian: EsteqlÄl, ÄzÄdÄ«, jomhÅ«rÄ«-ye eslÄmÄ« (English: Independence, freedom, (the) Islamic Republic)[citation needed] Anthem: SorÅ«d-e MellÄ«-e ÄªrÄn Capital Tehran Largest city Tehran Official language(s) Persian (Farsi) Government Islamic Republic - Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Revolution Overthrew Monarchy... Bengal, known as BÃ´ngo (Bengali: à¦¬à¦™à§à¦—), Bangla (à¦¬à¦¾à¦‚à¦²à¦¾), BÃ´ngodesh (à¦¬à¦™à§à¦—à¦¦à§‡à¦¶), or Bangladesh (à¦¬à¦¾à¦‚à¦²à¦¾à¦¦à§‡à¦¶) in Bangla, is a region in the northeast of South Asia. ... Assam now renamed to Asom (Assamese: à¦…à¦¸à¦® Ã”xÃ´m) is a northeastern state of India with its capital at Dispur. ... Mysore (Kannada: à²®à³ˆà²¸à³‚à²°à³) is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka. ... A replica of an ancient statue of Gautama Buddha, found from Sarnath, near Varanasi. ... Standing Buddha, ancient region of Gandhara, northern Pakistan, 1st century CE. Gautama Buddha was a South Asian spiritual leader who lived between approximately 563 BCE and 483 BCE. Born Siddhartha Gautama in Sanskrit, a name meaning descendant of Gotama whose aims are achieved/who is efficacious in achieving aims, he...

The name "Ashoka" means "without sorrow" in Sanskrit. In his edicts he is referred to as "Devaanaampriya" or "The Beloved Of The Gods". The Sanskrit language ( , ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, and one of the 22 official languages of India. ...

H.G. Wells wrote of Ashoka: "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. They shone for a brief moment, and as quickly disappeared. But Ashoka shines and shines brightly like a bright star, even unto this day." H. G. Wells at the door of his house at Sandgate Herbert George Wells (September 21, 1866 - August 13, 1946) was an English writer best known for his science fiction novels such as The War of the Worlds and The Time Machine. ...

His legend is related in the 2nd century CE Ashokavadana ("Narrative of Ashoka") and Divyavadana ("Divine narrative"). The Ashokavadana (Narrative of Ashoka) is a 2nd century CE book related the legend of the Maurya emperor Ashoka. ... Divyavadana, Devine Deeds (Avadana) is a Sarvastivadin anthology consisting 38 ledends including emperor Asoka. ...

Early life

According to Buddhist tradition, described in the 2nd century CE "Legend of Ashoka", the birth of Ashoka was foretold by the Buddha, in the story of "The Gift of Dust": Image File history File linksMetadata TheGiftOfDirt. ... Image File history File linksMetadata TheGiftOfDirt. ... GandhÄra (also Ghandara, Ghandahra, Chandahara, and Persian Gandara) is the name of an ancient Mahajanapada in eastern Afghanistan and the north-western province of Pakistan. ... The Ashokavadana (Narrative of Ashoka) is a 2nd century CE book related the legend of the Maurya emperor Ashoka. ...

Following this prophecy, the "Legend of Ashoka" further states that Ashoka was finally born as the son of the Maurya Emperor Bindusara by a relatively lower ranked queen named Dharma. Dharma was said to be the daughter of a poor Brahmin who introduced her into the harem of the Emperor as it was predicted that her son would be a great ruler. 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.^[2] Chandragupta Maurya (ruled 322–298 BC), known to the Greeks as Sandracottus, was the first emperor of the Mauryan empire. ... Bindusara was the second Mauryan emperor (297 - c. ...

Ashoka had several elder half-brothers and just one younger sibling, Vitthashoka, another son of Dharma. The princes were extremely competitive, but young Ashoka excelled in the military and academic disciplines in which the boys were tutored. There was a great deal of sibling rivalry, especially between Ashoka and his brother Susima, both as warriors and as administrators.

Rise to power

Developing into an impeccable warrior general and a shrewd statesman, Ashoka went on to command several regiments of the Mauryan army. His growing popularity across the empire made his elder brothers wary of his chances of being favoured by Bindusara to become the next emperor. The eldest of them, Prince Susima, the traditional heir to the throne, persuaded Bindusara to send Ashoka to quell an uprising in the city of Takshashila in the north-west province of Sindh, of which Prince Susima was the governor. Takshashila was a highly volatile place because of the war-like Indo-Greek population and mismanagement by Susima himself. This had led to the formation of different militias causing unrest. Ashoka complied and left for the troubled area. As news of Ashoka's visit with his army trickled in, he was welcomed by the revolting militias and the uprising ended without a fight. (The province revolted once more during the rule of Ashoka, but this time the uprising was crushed with an iron fist). Download high resolution version (388x623, 38 KB)Boundary of the Mauryan empire at its greatest extent, ca. ... Download high resolution version (388x623, 38 KB)Boundary of the Mauryan empire at its greatest extent, ca. ... The Mauryan empire (321 to 185 BCE), at its largest extent around 230 BCE. The Lion Capital of Asoka, erected around 250 BCE. It is the emblem of India. ... A regiment is a military unit, consisting of a group of battalions, usually four and commanded by a colonel. ... Bindusara was the second Mauryan emperor (297 - c. ... Sushima was a prince of Mauryan empire and half-brother of Asoka. ... This article needs cleanup. ... Sindh (Sind) (Sindhi: Ø³Ù†ÚŒ ;Urdu: Ø³Ù†Ø¯Ú¾) is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and is home to the Sindhis, Muhajirs and various other groups. ... Maximum extent of Indo-Greek territory circa 175 BCE. The Indo-Greeks (or sometimes Greco-Indians) designate a series of Greek kings, who invaded and controlled parts of northwest and northern India from 180 BCE to around 10 BCE. They are the continuation of the Greco-Bactrian dynasty of Greek... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ...

Ashoka's success made his half-brothers more wary of his intentions of becoming the emperor, and more incitements from Susima led Bindusara to send Ashoka into exile. He went into Kalinga and stayed incognito there. There he met a fisherwoman named Kaurwaki, with whom he fell in love; recently found inscriptions indicate that she went on to become his second or third queen. Orissa (Hindi: ) (2001 provisional pop. ... Kaurwaki is a character in the legend of Indian emperor, Ashoka, set in the 3rd century BC. It is said she was a fisherwoman and later on became one of Ashokas wives. ...

Meanwhile, there again was a violent uprising in Ujjain. Emperor Bindusara summoned Ashoka back after an exile of two years. Ashoka went into Ujjain and in the ensuing battle was injured, but his generals quelled the uprising. Ashoka was treated in hiding so that loyalists in Susima's camp could not harm him. He was treated by Buddhist monks and nuns. This is where he first learned the teachings of the Buddha, and it is also where he met the beautiful Devi, who was his personal nurse and the daughter of a merchant from adjacent Vidisha. After recovering, he married her. Ashoka, at this time, was already married to Asandhimitra who was to be his much-loved chief queen for many years till her death. She seems to have stayed on in Pataliputra all her life. Download high resolution version (866x578, 111 KB) Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (866x578, 111 KB) Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Sanchi is a small village of India, located 46 km north east of Bhopal, in the central part of the state of Madhya Pradesh. ... Madhya Pradesh (à¤®à¤§à¥à¤¯ à¤ªà¥à¤°à¤¦à¥‡à¤¶) is a state in central India. ... Ujjain (also known as Ujain, Ujjayini, Avanti) is an ancient city of central India, in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh, on the eastern bank of the Kshipra River. ... Standing Buddha, ancient region of Gandhara, northern Pakistan, 1st century CE, MusÃ©e Guimet. ... Vidisha or Besnagar or old name Bhelsa is a city in Madhya Pradesh,near its capital Bhopal, state of central India. ...

The following year passed quite peacefully for him and Devi was about to deliver his first child. In the meantime, Emperor Bindusara took ill and was on his death-bed. A clique of ministers lead by Radhagupta, who hated Susima, summoned Ashoka to take the crown, though Bindusara preferred Susima. As the Buddhist lore goes, in a fit of rage Prince Ashoka attacked Pataliputra (modern day Patna), and killed all his brothers, including Susima, and threw their bodies into a well in Pataliputra. It is not known if Bindusara was already dead at this time. At that stage of his life, many called him Chanda Ashoka meaning murderer and heartless Ashoka. The Buddhist legends paint a gory picture of his sadistic activities at this time. Most are unbelievable, and must be read as supporting background to highlight the transformation in Ashoka which Buddhism brought about later. ... For other uses, see Patna (disambiguation). ...

Ascending the throne, Ashoka expanded his empire over the next eight years: it grew to encompass an area extending from the present-day boundaries of Bangladesh and the Indian state of Assam, in the east, to the territory of present-day Iran and Afghanistan, in the west, and from the Pamir Knots in the north almost to the peninsular tip of southern India. At that stage of his life, he was called Chakravarti which literally translates to "he for whom the wheel of law turns" (broadly meaning the emperor). Around this time, his Buddhist queen Devi gave birth to two children, Prince Mahindra and Princess Sanghamitra. Assam now renamed to Asom (Assamese: à¦…à¦¸à¦® Ã”xÃ´m) is a northeastern state of India with its capital at Dispur. ... Located in Central Asia, the Pamir Mountains are formed by the junction of the Tian Shan, Karakoram, Kunlun, and Hindu Kush ranges. ... South India is a geographic and linguistic-cultural region of India. ...

Conquest of Kalinga

The early part of Ashoka's reign was apparently quite bloodthirsty. Ashoka was constantly on the war campaign, conquering territory after territory and significantly expanding the already large Mauryan empire and adding to his wealth. His last conquest was the state of Kalinga on the east coast of India in the present-day state of Orissa. Kalinga prided itself on its sovereignty and democracy; with its monarchical-parliamentary democracy, it was quite an exception in ancient Bharata, as there existed the concept of Rajdharma, meaning the duty of the rulers, which was intrinsically entwined with the concept of bravery and Kshatriya dharma. Combatants Mauryan Empire state of Kalinga Commanders Ashoka Unknown Strength Unknown large quantity Unknown small quantity Casualties 10,000 (approx. ... Image File history File links Fragment of the 6th pillar Edict of Ashoka. ... Image File history File links Fragment of the 6th pillar Edict of Ashoka. ... BrÄhmÄ« refers to the pre-modern members of the Brahmic family of scripts, attested from the 3rd century BC. The best known and earliest dated inscriptions in Brahmi are the rock-cut edicts of Ashoka. ... The centre of the museum was redeveloped in 2000 to become the Great Court, with a tessellated glass roof by Foster and Partners surrounding the original Reading Room. ... Orissa (Hindi: ) (2001 provisional pop. ... Sovereignty is the exclusive right to exercise supreme political (e. ... Kshatriya dharma is the noble warrior faith. ...

The pretext for the start of the Kalinga War (265 BC or 263 BC) is uncertain. One of Ashoka's brothers - and probably a supporter of Susima - might have fled to Kalinga and found official refuge there. This enraged Ashoka immensely. He was advised by his ministers to attack Kalinga for this act of treachery. Ashoka then asked Kalinga's royalty to submit before his supremacy. When they defied this diktat, Ashoka sent one of his generals to Kalinga to make them submit. Combatants Mauryan Empire state of Kalinga Commanders Ashoka Unknown Strength Unknown large quantity Unknown small quantity Casualties 10,000 (approx. ... Centuries: 4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC Decades: 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC 280s BC 270s BC - 260s BC - 250s BC 240s BC 230s BC 220s BC 210s BC Years: 270 BC 269 BC 268 BC 267 BC 266 BC - 265 BC - 264 BC 263 BC... Centuries: 4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC Decades: 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC 280s BC 270s BC - 260s BC - 250s BC 240s BC 230s BC 220s BC 210s BC Years: 268 BC 267 BC 266 BC 265 BC 264 BC - 263 BC - 262 BC 261 BC... Diktat pronounced: dik-tat An english word meaning A settlement or decree imposed on a defeated people or nation. Often used to indicate an oppressive or unilateral law or order, especially with regard to military occupation. ...

The general and his forces were, however, completely routed through the skilled tactics of Kalinga's commander-in-chief. Ashoka, baffled by this defeat, attacked with the greatest invasion ever recorded in Indian history until then. Kalinga put up a stiff resistance, but they were no match for Ashoka's powerful armies, superior weapons and experienced generals and soldiers. The whole of Kalinga was plundered and destroyed: Ashoka's later edicts say that about 100,000 people were killed on the Kalinga side and 10,000 from Ashoka's army; thousands of men and women were deported.

Embrace of Buddhism

As the legend goes, 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?" The brutality of the conquest led him to adopt Buddhism and he used his position to propagate the relatively new philosophy to new heights, as far as ancient Rome and Egypt. A fresco from the Ajanta caves in Maharashtra, India, once a gathering places for Buddhist monks. ... Image File history File links Ashoka_Chakra. ... Image File history File links Ashoka_Chakra. ... The Ashoka Chakra (Pronunced as Ashok Chakra, not Ashokaa Chakraa) is an ancient Indian depiction of the Wheel of Life and Cosmic Order (Sanskrit: Chakra, wheel. ... A replica of an ancient statue of Gautama Buddha, found from Sarnath, near Varanasi. ... Nickname: The Eternal City Location within Province of Rome in the Region of Latium Coordinates: Region Latium Porvince Province of Rome Mayor of Rome Walter Veltroni Area - City 1,285 kmÂ² (496. ...

As legend goes, there was also another factor that lead 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. 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. 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. An Ashram (Pronounced aashram) in ancient India was a Hindu hermitage where sages (See Rishi) lived in peace and tranquility amidst nature. ...

Meanwhile Queen 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 Queen Devi, abhorred violence and bloodshed, but knew that as royals war would be a part of their lives. They therefore asked Ashoka for permission to join the Buddhist monks, which Ashoka reluctantly granted. The two siblings established Buddhism in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Mahinda was the son of Emperor Ashoka. ... Sanghamitra was a princess of the Mauryan Empire of India. ...

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 Vibhajjvada school of Buddhism and preached it within his domain and worldwide from about 250 BC. Emperor Ashoka undoubtedly has to be credited with the first serious attempt to develop a Buddhist policy. Centuries: 4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC Decades: 300s BC 290s BC 280s BC 270s BC 260s BC - 250s BC - 240s BC 230s BC 220s BC 210s BC 200s BC Years: 255 BC 254 BC 253 BC 252 BC 251 BC - 250 BC - 249 BC 248 BC... A policy is a plan of action to guide decisions and actions. ...

Coin of the Mauryan empire, c. ... Coin of the Mauryan empire, c. ... The Dharmacakra (Sanskrit) or Dhammacakka (PÄli), Tibetan , Chinese fÄƒlÃºn æ³•è½®, Wheel of Dharma is an auspicious Buddhist symbol representing a Buddhas teaching of the path to enlightenment. ... (2nd millennium BC - 1st millennium BC - 1st millennium) The 3rd century BC started on January 1, 300 BC and ended on December 31, 201 BC. // Events The Pyramid of the Moon, one of several monuments built in TeotihuacÃ¡n TeotihuacÃ¡n, Mexico begun The first two Punic Wars between Carthage...

Policy

Emperor Ashoka built thousands of Stupas and Viharas for Buddhist followers (the Ashokavadana says 84,000 such monuments were built). The Stupas of Sanchi are world famous and the stupa named Sanchi Stupa 1 was built by Emperor Ashoka. During the remaining portion of Ashoka's reign, he pursued an official policy of nonviolence or ahimsa. Even the unnecessary slaughter or mutilation of animals was immediately abolished. Wildlife became protected by the king's law against sport hunting and branding. Limited hunting was permitted for consumption reasons but Ashoka also promoted the concept of vegetarianism. 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. He treated his subjects as equals regardless of their religion, politics and caste. The weaker kingdoms surrounding his, which could so easily be overthrown, were instead made to be well-respected allies. In all these respects, Ashoka far exceeded even modern-day world leaders. Stupa at Samye Ling Monastery, Scotland A stupa (from the Sanskrit) is a type of Buddhist structure found across the Indian subcontinent, Asia and increasingly in the Western World. ... Vihara is Sanskrit or Pali for (Buddhist) monastery. ... The Ashokavadana (Narrative of Ashoka) is a 2nd century CE book related the legend of the Maurya emperor Ashoka. ... Sanchi is a small village of India, located 46 km north east of Bhopal, in the central part of the state of Madhya Pradesh. ... Nonviolence (or non-violence) is a set of assumptions about morality conflict that leads its proponents to reject the use of violence in efforts to attain social or political goals. ... Ahimsa is a religious concept which advocates non-violence and a respect for all life. ... Various species of deer are commonly seen wildlife across the Americas and Eurasia. ... It has been suggested that Big-game hunter be merged into this article or section. ... Look up branding in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Vegetarianism is the practice of not consuming meat, with or without the use of other animal derivatives, such as dairy products or eggs. ... Representation of a university class, 1350s. ... High-altitude aerial view of irrigation in the Heart of the Sahara (, ) Irrigation (in agriculture) is the replacement or supplementation of rainfall with water from another source in order to grow crops. ... A fruit stand at a market. ... Caste systems are traditional, hereditary systems of social stratification, such as clans, gentes, or the Indian caste system. ...

He is acclaimed for constructing hospitals for animals and people alike, and renovating major roads throughout India. Dharmashoka 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, liberal towards friends, humane treatment of servants, and generosity towards all. These principles suggest a general ethic of behavior to which no religious or social group could object. A physician visiting the sick in a hospital. ... PÄli is a Middle Indo-Aryan dialect or prakrit. ... The cross of the war memorial and a menorah for Hanukkah coexist in Oxford. ... A sect is generally a small religious or political group that has branched off from a larger established group. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Respect is an attitude of acknowledging the feelings and interests of another party in a relationship, and of treating as consequential for the self the helping or harming of the other. ... A Brahmin (anglicised from the Sanskrit word IAST ; Devanagari ), also known as Vipra, Dvija, Dvijottama (best of the Dvijas), (god on Earth) is a member of a caste within Hindu society. ... Roman Catholic priests in traditional clerical clothing. ... Look up liberal on Wiktionary, the free dictionary Liberal may refer to: Politics: Liberalism American liberalism, a political trend in the USA Political progressivism, a political ideology that is for change, often associated with liberal movements Liberty, the condition of being free from control or restrictions Liberal Party, members of... A servant is a person who is hired to provide regular household or other duties, and receives compensation. ... Look up generosity in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

The Edicts of Ashoka

The Ashoka Pillar at Sarnath is the most popular of the relics left by Ashoka. Made of sandstone, this pillar records the visit of the emperor to Sarnath, in the 3rd century 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 symbolises both Ashoka's imperial rule and the kingship of the Buddha. In translating these monuments, historians learn the bulk of what is assumed to have been true fact of the Maurya Empire. It is difficult to determine whether certain events ever happened, but the stone etchings depict clearly of how Ashoka wanted to be thought and how he wanted to be remembered. 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 dynasty during his reign from 272 to 231 BCE. These inscriptions are dispersed throughout the areas of modern-day Pakistan... 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 the 3rd century BCE. SAlMAN Ashish Many of the pillars are carved with proclamations reflecting Buddhist teachings: the Edicts of Ashoka. ... Sarnath (formerly also Mrigadava, Rishipattana, Isipatana), located 13 kilometres from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, is the deer park where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma, and where the Buddhist Sangha was founded. ... Red sandstone interior of Lower Antelope Canyon, Arizona, worn smooth due to erosion by flash flooding over millions of years Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-size mineral or rock grains. ... (2nd millennium BC - 1st millennium BC - 1st millennium) The 3rd century BC started on January 1, 300 BC and ended on December 31, 201 BC. // Events The Pyramid of the Moon, one of several monuments built in TeotihuacÃ¡n TeotihuacÃ¡n, Mexico begun The first two Punic Wars between Carthage... Emblem of India. ... A national emblem symbolically represents a nation. ...

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".

Missions to spread the Dharma

Asoka was the sponsor of the third buddhist council of Vibhajjavada (current Theravada) buddhism. After this council he sent buddhist monks to spread this religion to other countries, which were known to him at the time. The following table is a list of the countries he sent missionaries to, as described in the Mahavamsa, XII ^[3]: Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Theravada (Pali; Sanskrit: Sthaviravada) is one of the eighteen (or twenty) NikÄya schools that formed early in the history of Buddhism. ... The Mahavamsa, also Mahawamsa, (PÄli: great chronicle) is a historical record, written in the PÄli language, of the Buddhist kings of Sri Lanka. ...

Regarding the "Country of the Yona", Ashoka further specifies in his Edict No 13 (quoted hereafter), that most Hellenistic rulers of the period (Antiochus II Theos, Ptolemy II Philadelphus, Antigonus Gonatas, Magas of Cyrene and Alexander II of Epirus) received the teaching of the "Dharma". In the same Edict, Ashoka also adds the Cholas and the Pandyas as recipient of the faith. For the dispute concerning this region, see History of the Kashmir conflict Shown in green is the region under Pakistani administration. ... GandhÄra (also Ghandara, Ghandahra, Chandahara, and Persian Gandara) is the name of an ancient Mahajanapada in eastern Afghanistan and the north-western province of Pakistan. ... Mysore (Kannada: à²®à³ˆà²¸à³‚à²°à³) is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka. ... Vanavasi is a panchayat town in Salem district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. ... Gujarat (Gujarati: , , IPA ; also spelled Gujrat and sometimes Gujarath. ... Sindh (Sind) (Sindhi: Ø³Ù†ÚŒ ;Urdu: Ø³Ù†Ø¯Ú¾) is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and is home to the Sindhis, Muhajirs and various other groups. ... Yona (also sometimes Yonaka) is a Pali word used in ancient India to designate ancient Greek people. ... Dharmaraksita (Pali: Dhammarakkhita) was one of the missionaries sent by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka to proselytize the Buddhist faith. ... Maharashtra (Marathi: à¤®à¤¹à¤¾à¤°à¤¾à¤·à¥à¤Ÿà¥à¤° mahÄrÄá¹£á¹ra, literally: Great Nation; IPA: )( ) is Indias third largest state in terms of area and second largest in terms of population after Uttar Pradesh. ... Yona (also sometimes Yonaka) is a Pali word used in ancient India to designate ancient Greek people. ... It has been suggested that Ta-Hsia be merged into this article or section. ... The Seleucid Empire was a Hellenistic successor state of Alexander the Greats dominion. ... Mahinda was the son of Emperor Ashoka. ... Yona (also sometimes Yonaka) is a Pali word used in ancient India to designate ancient Greek people. ... 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 dynasty during his reign from 272 to 231 BCE. These inscriptions are dispersed throughout the areas of modern-day Pakistan... Coin of Antiochus II. The Greek inscription reads Î’Î‘Î£Î™Î›Î•Î©Î£ Î‘ÎÎ¤Î™ÎŸÎ§ÎŸÎ¥ (of king Antiochus). ... Head of Ptolemy II Philadelphus (309-246 BC), with ArsinoÃ« II. Ptolemy II Philadelphus (309-246 BC), was the ruler of Egypt (he was not technically the pharaoh because he was not ethnically Egyptian) from 281 BC to 246 BC. He was of a delicate constitution, no Macedonian warrior-chief... Coin of Antigonus II Gonatas (c. ... Magas of Cyrene (r. ... Alexander II, king of Epirus, succeeded his father Pyrrhus in 272 BC. He attacked Antigonus Gonatas and conquered the greater part of Macedonia, but was in turn driven out of both Epirus and Macedonia by Demetrius, the son of Antigonus. ... The Cholas were the most famous of the three dynasties that ruled ancient Tamil Nadu. ... The Pandyan kingdom was an ancient state at the tip of South India, founded around the 6th century BCE. It was part of the Dravidian cultural area, which also comprised other kingdoms such as that of the Pallava, the Chera, the Chola, the Chalukya and the Vijayanagara. ...

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. 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. If his inscriptions and edicts are well studied, one finds that he was familiar with the Hellenistic world but never in awe of it. The Edicts of Ashoka, which talk of friendly relations, give the names of both Antiochus of the Seleucid empire and Ptolemy III of Egypt. 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 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. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (889x708, 418 KB) Summary Greek capital from Pataliputra (Patna), India. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (889x708, 418 KB) Summary Greek capital from Pataliputra (Patna), India. ... Kouros of the Archaic period, Thebes Archaeological Museum The sculpture of Ancient Greece is by far the most important surviving form of Ancient Greek art, although only a small fragment of Greek sculptural output has survived. ... A capital of the Composite order In Western architecture, the capital (from the Latin caput, head) forms the crowning member of the column, which projects on each side as it rises, in order to support the abacus and unite the square form of the latter with the circular shaft. ... For other uses, see Patna (disambiguation). ... ... Patna Museum was built by the British during the British Raj in the year 1917 to house the historical artefacts found in the vicinity of Patna. ... The Seleucid Empire was a Hellenistic successor state of Alexander the Greats dominion. ... Approximate extent of the Greco-Bactrian kingdom circa 220 BCE. The Greco-Bactrians were a dynasty of Greek kings who controlled Bactria and Sogdiana, an area comprising todays northern Afghanistan and parts of Central Asia, the easternmost area of the Hellenistic world, from 250 to 125 BCE. Their expansion... The founder of the Greco-Bactrian kingdom, Diodotus c. ... Silver coin of Antiochus I. The reverse shows Apollo seated on an omphalos. ... Coin of Antiochus II. The Greek inscription reads Î’Î‘Î£Î™Î›Î•Î©Î£ Î‘ÎÎ¤Î™ÎŸÎ§ÎŸÎ¥ (of king Antiochus). ... After the death of Alexander the Great in the afternoon of 11 June 323 BC, his empire was divided by his generals, the Diadochi(successors). ... Coin of Diodotus II Diodotus II was a Greco-Bactrian king, son of Diodotus I. He is known for concluding a peace with the Parthians (Justin l. ... Inscriptions are words or letters written, engraved, painted, or otherwise traced on a surface and can appear in contexts both small and monumental. ... An edict is an announcement of a law, often associated with monarchism. ... The term Hellenistic (derived from HÃ©llÄ“n, the Greeks traditional self-described ethnic name) was established by the German historian Johann Gustav Droysen to refer to the spreading of Greek culture over the non-Greek peoples that were conquered by Alexander the Great. ... 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 dynasty during his reign from 272 to 231 BCE. These inscriptions are dispersed throughout the areas of modern-day Pakistan... Ptolemy III Euergetes I, (Ptolemaeus III) (Evergetes, Euergetes) (246 BC-222 BC). ... Allegiance: Magadhan Empire Rank: Emperor Succeeded by: Bindusara Maurya Reign: 322 BC-298 BC Place of birth: India Chandragupta Maurya (Sanskrit: à¤šà¤¨à¥à¤¦à¥à¤°à¤—à¥à¤ªà¥à¤¤ à¤®à¥Œà¤°à¥à¤¯; Greek: Sandrocottus ) (ruled 322â€“298 BC) was the founder of the Mauryan Empire. ... Silver coin of Seleucus. ... After the death of Alexander the Great in the afternoon of 11 June 323 BC, his empire was divided by his generals, the Diadochi(successors). ... Antigonus may refer to: Three Macedonian kings of the Antigonid dynasty that succeeded Alexander the Great in Asia: Antigonus I Monophthalmus (382â€“301 BC) Antigonus II Gonatas (319â€“239 BC) Antigonus III Doson (263â€“221 BC) Antigonus of Sokho, Jewish scholar of the third century BC. Antigonus the Hasmonean (died... Silver coin of Antiochus III Antiochus III the Great, (ruled 223 - 187 BC), younger son of Seleucus II Callinicus, became ruler of the Seleucid kingdom as a youth of about eighteen in 223 BC. (His traditional designation, the Great, stems from a misconception of Megas Basileus (Great king), the traditional...

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: 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 dynasty during his reign from 272 to 231 BCE. These inscriptions are dispersed throughout the areas of modern-day Pakistan...

Fragments of Edict 13 have been found in Greek, and a full Edict, written in both Greek and Aramaic has been discovered in Kandahar. 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: Kambojas are a very ancient people of north-western parts of ancient India and Afghanistan , frequently mentioned in ancient texts, although not in the Rig Veda. ... Andhra Pradesh (ఆంధర దేశం), a state in South India, lies between 12°41 and 22°N latitude and 77° and 84°40E longitude . ... Dharma (Sanskrit à¤§à¤°à¥à¤®) or Dhamma (PÄli) means Natural Law or Reality, and with respect to its significance for spirituality and religion might be considered the Way of the Higher Truths. ... 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 dynasty during his reign from 272 to 231 BCE. These inscriptions are dispersed throughout the areas of modern-day Pakistan... ImageMetadata File history File links AsokaKandahar. ... ImageMetadata File history File links AsokaKandahar. ... Aramaic is a Semitic language with a four-thousand year history. ... For the 2001 movie by Mohsen Makhmalbaf, see Kandahar (film). ... A view of the old city Kabul Kabul (, KÃ¢bl, in Persian Ú©Ø§Ø¨Ù„) is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan with a population variously estimated at 2 to 4 million. ... For the 2001 movie by Mohsen Makhmalbaf, see Kandahar (film). ... Eusebeia (Greek:Îµá½ÏƒÎÎ²ÎµÎ¹Î±, from eu meaning well, and sebomai meaning reverence, itself formed from seb meaning sacred awe and reverence especially in actions) is a Greek word abundantly used in Greek philosophy as well as in the New Testament, meaning inner piety, spiritual maturity, or godliness. ... Piety is a desire and willingness to perform spiritual, often ascetic rituals. ... Dharma (Sanskrit à¤§à¤°à¥à¤®) or Dhamma (PÄli) means Natural Law or Reality, and with respect to its significance for spirituality and religion might be considered the Way of the Higher Truths. ... Prakrit (Sanskrit prÄká¹›ta à¤ªà¥à¤°à¤¾à¤•à¥ƒà¤¤ (from pra-ká¹›ti à¤ªà¥à¤°à¤•à¥ƒà¤¤à¤¿), original, natural, artless, normal, ordinary, usual, i. ...

Eusebeia (Greek:Îµá½ÏƒÎÎ²ÎµÎ¹Î±, from eu meaning well, and sebomai meaning reverence, itself formed from seb meaning sacred awe and reverence especially in actions) is a Greek word abundantly used in Greek philosophy as well as in the New Testament, meaning inner piety, spiritual maturity, or godliness. ...

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: Head of Ptolemy II Philadelphus (309-246 BC), with ArsinoÃ« II. Ptolemy II Philadelphus (309-246 BC), was the ruler of Egypt (he was not technically the pharaoh because he was not ethnically Egyptian) from 281 BC to 246 BC. He was of a delicate constitution, no Macedonian warrior-chief... Ptolemaic Egypt refers to the time period of hellenistic rule in Egypt. ... Pliny the Elder: an imaginative 19c portrait. ... 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 Mauryan empire (321 to 185 BCE), at its largest extent around 230 BCE. The Lion Capital of Asoka, erected around 250 BCE. It is the emblem of India. ... ...

Buddhist proselytism

Also, in the Edicts of Ashoka, Ashoka mentions the Hellenistic kings of the period as a recipient of his Buddhist prozelitism, although no Western historical record of this event remain: Download high resolution version (959x577, 19 KB) This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Download high resolution version (959x577, 19 KB) This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... The English language word proselytism is derived ultimately from the Greek language prefix pros (towards) and the verb erchomai (to come). ... (Redirected from 260 BCE) Centuries: 4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC Decades: 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC 280s BC 270s BC - 260s BC - 250s BC 240s BC 230s BC 220s BC 210s BC Years: 265 BC 264 BC 263 BC 262 BC 261 BC - 260 BC... (Redirected from 218 BCE) Centuries: 4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC Decades: 260s BC 250s BC 240s BC 230s BC 220s BC - 210s BC - 200s BC 190s BC 180s BC 170s BC 160s BC Years: 223 BC 222 BC 221 BC 220 BC 219 BC - 218 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 dynasty during his reign from 272 to 231 BCE. These inscriptions are dispersed throughout the areas of modern-day Pakistan... 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 dynasty during his reign from 272 to 231 BCE. These inscriptions are dispersed throughout the areas of modern-day Pakistan... A replica of an ancient statue of Gautama Buddha, found from Sarnath, near Varanasi. ...

Ashoka also claims that he encouraged the development of herbal medicine, for men and animals, in their territories: Dharma (Sanskrit à¤§à¤°à¥à¤®) or Dhamma (PÄli) means Natural Law or Reality, and with respect to its significance for spirituality and religion might be considered the Way of the Higher Truths. ... Å–Å…A yojana is a Vedic measure of distance, possibly somewhere from 5. ... Coin of Antiochus II. The Greek inscription reads Î’Î‘Î£Î™Î›Î•Î©Î£ Î‘ÎÎ¤Î™ÎŸÎ§ÎŸÎ¥ (of king Antiochus). ... Head of Ptolemy II Philadelphus (309-246 BC), with ArsinoÃ« II. Ptolemy II Philadelphus (309-246 BC), was the ruler of Egypt (he was not technically the pharaoh because he was not ethnically Egyptian) from 281 BC to 246 BC. He was of a delicate constitution, no Macedonian warrior-chief... Coin of Antigonus II Gonatas (c. ... Magas of Cyrene (r. ... Alexander II, king of Epirus, succeeded his father Pyrrhus in 272 BC. He attacked Antigonus Gonatas and conquered the greater part of Macedonia, but was in turn driven out of both Epirus and Macedonia by Demetrius, the son of Antigonus. ... The Cholas were the most famous of the three dynasties that ruled ancient Tamil Nadu. ... The Pandyan kingdom was an ancient state at the tip of South India, founded around the 6th century BCE. It was part of the Dravidian cultural area, which also comprised other kingdoms such as that of the Pallava, the Chera, the Chola, the Chalukya and the Vijayanagara. ... Tamraparni is an ancient region of southern India, corresponding to the area of a Tamraparni river, in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. ... 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 dynasty during his reign from 272 to 231 BCE. These inscriptions are dispersed throughout the areas of modern-day Pakistan... The term Herbalism refers to folk and traditional medicinal practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. ...

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 Buddhist proselytism (the Mahavamsa, XII ^[5]). The Cholas were the most famous of the three dynasties that ruled ancient Tamil Nadu. ... The Pandyan kingdom was an ancient state at the tip of South India, founded around the 6th century BCE. It was part of the Dravidian cultural area, which also comprised other kingdoms such as that of the Pallava, the Chera, the Chola, the Chalukya and the Vijayanagara. ... Tamraparni is an ancient region of southern India, corresponding to the area of a Tamraparni river, in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. ... Coin of Antiochus II. The Greek inscription reads Î’Î‘Î£Î™Î›Î•Î©Î£ Î‘ÎÎ¤Î™ÎŸÎ§ÎŸÎ¥ (of king Antiochus). ... 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 dynasty during his reign from 272 to 231 BCE. These inscriptions are dispersed throughout the areas of modern-day Pakistan... Dharmaraksita (Pali: Dhammarakkhita) was one of the missionaries sent by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka to proselytize the Buddhist faith. ... PÄli is a Middle Indo-Aryan dialect or prakrit. ... Yona (also sometimes Yonaka) is a Pali word used in ancient India to designate ancient Greek people. ... The Mahavamsa, also Mahawamsa, (PÄli: great chronicle) is a historical record, written in the PÄli language, of the Buddhist kings of Sri Lanka. ...

Marital alliance

A "marital alliance" had been concluded between Seleucus and Ashoka's grandfather Chandragupta in 303 BCE: Seleucus was the name of several Macedonian kings of the Seleucid dynasty ruling in the area of Syria. ... This article deals with the fourth century BC founder of the Maurya dynasty. ...

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. Since there are no records of an Indian princess in the abundant Classical litterature 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 an 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.^[7] Appian (c. ... In ancient Greece Epigamia (Greek language: Î•Ï€Î¹Î³Î±Î¼Î¹Î±), designated the legal right to contract a marriage. ...

Historical sources

Information about the life and reign of Ashoka primarily comes from a relatively small number of Buddhist sources. 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. 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 'good looking', or '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 dynasty during his reign from 272 to 231 BCE. These inscriptions are dispersed throughout the areas of modern-day Pakistan... The Ashokavadana (Narrative of Ashoka) is a 2nd century CE book related the legend of the Maurya emperor Ashoka. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1071x1679, 1045 KB) Summary Book cover of The legend of King Asoka, John Strong, Princeton Library of ASina translations, ISBN 0691014590 Licensing This image is of a book cover, and the copyright for it is most likely owned either by the... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1071x1679, 1045 KB) Summary Book cover of The legend of King Asoka, John Strong, Princeton Library of ASina translations, ISBN 0691014590 Licensing This image is of a book cover, and the copyright for it is most likely owned either by the... The Ashokavadana (Narrative of Ashoka) is a 2nd century CE book related the legend of the Maurya emperor Ashoka. ... The Sanskrit language ( , ) is a classical language of India, a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, and one of the 22 official languages of India. ... The Ashokavadana (Narrative of Ashoka) is a 2nd century CE book related the legend of the Maurya emperor Ashoka. ... PÄli is a Middle Indo-Aryan dialect or prakrit. ... The Dipavamsa (Island Chronicle in Pali) is the oldest historical record of Sri Lanka, believed to be compiled in the 4th century. ... The Mahavamsa, also Mahawamsa, (PÄli: great chronicle) is a historical record, written in the PÄli language, of the Buddhist kings of Sri Lanka. ... Capital of one of the inscription-bearing pillars erected by Emperor Ashoka (272-231 BCE), at Sarnath around 250 BCE. 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). 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 Jains, Buddhists, orthodox Brahmanists, and Ajivikas). The word dharma (Sanskrit; धर्म in the Devanagari script) or dhamma (Pali) is used in most or all philosophies and religions of Indian origin, Dharmic faiths, namely Hinduism (Sanatana Dharma), Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. ... Dharma (Sanskrit à¤§à¤°à¥à¤®) or Dhamma (PÄli) means Natural Law or Reality, and with respect to its significance for spirituality and religion might be considered the Way of the Higher Truths. ... JAIN is an activity within the Java Community Process, developing APIs for the creation of telephony (voice and data) services. ... Brahmanism, popularly known as Hinduism, developed its ritual, worship and philosophy from Aryan scriptures the Vedas. ... Ajivika is an anti-Brahminical philosophy, which literally translates to following an ascetic way of life. It was first propounded by Goshala Maskariputra (in 484 B.C.) Goshala is believed to have been a friend of Mahavira, the founder of Jainism. ...

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 adherants 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 ruled for an estimated forty years, and after his death, the Maurya dynasty lasted just fifty more years. 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. 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. 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. It is said that she had got his son Kunala, the regent in Takshashila, blinded by a wily stratagem. 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 Kunal's misfortune may have been a punishment for some past sin of the emperor himself and condemns Tishyaraksha to death, restoring Kunal to the court. Kunala was succeeded by his son, Samprati. But his rule did not last long after Ashoka's death. http://www. ... http://www. ... Girnar, a scenic mountain range in Gujarat, India, rises to above 6000 meters, the highest peaks in Gujarat. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Mahindra and Mahindra Limited. ... Sanghamitra was a princess of the Mauryan Empire of India. ... Commonly known as Devi (goddess), Vaishnodevi (à¤¦à¥‡à¤µà¥€, DevÄ« in Hindi and Sanskrit) is the Divine Mother of Hinduism. ... Ujjain (also known as Ujain, Ujjayini, Avanti) is an ancient city of central India, in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh, on the eastern bank of the Kshipra River. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Mahindra and Mahindra Limited. ... Sanghamitra was a princess of the Mauryan Empire of India. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... Kunala was Ashoka son and presumptive heir, whom he sent to Ujjayini, there to be brought up. ... This article needs cleanup. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... ... Samprati Maurya was a king of the Mauryan empire. ...

The reign of Ashoka Maurya could easily have disappeared into history as the ages passed by, and would have, if he had 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. Rather than Sanskrit, the language used for inscription was the current spoken form called Prakrit. Photo from [1] All photos were taken by Jona Lendering and Marco Prins. ... Photo from [1] All photos were taken by Jona Lendering and Marco Prins. ... The Emblem of India The Emblem of India is a replica of the Ashoka Capital The Emblem of India is an adaptation from the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka. ... Fragment of the 6th Pillar Edict of Ashoka (238 BCE), in Brahmi, sandstone. ... Conception of ancient Harappas Mound E Gateway [1] Harappa is a city in Punjab, northeast Pakistan, located beside a former course of the Ravi River; about 35km southwest of Sahiwal. ... Prakrit (Sanskrit prÄká¹›ta à¤ªà¥à¤°à¤¾à¤•à¥ƒà¤¤ (from pra-ká¹›ti à¤ªà¥à¤°à¤•à¥ƒà¤¤à¤¿), original, natural, artless, normal, ordinary, usual, i. ...

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. Pusyamitra Sunga founded the Sunga dynasty (185 BC-78 BC) and ruled just a fragmented part of the Mauryan Empire. Much of the northwestern territories of the Mauryan Empire (modern-day Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan) became the Indo-Greek Kingdom. Centuries: 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC - 1st century BC Decades: 230s BC 220s BC 210s BC 200s BC 190s BC - 180s BC - 170s BC 160s BC 150s BC 140s BC 130s BC Years: 190 BC 189 BC 188 BC 187 BC 186 BC - 185 BC - 184 BC 183 BC... Brhadrata was the last ruler of the Indian Mauryan dynasty. ... Pusyamitra Sunga (also Pushyamitra Shunga) was the founder of the Indian Sunga dynasty (185-78 BCE). ... The Sunga dynasty ruled the Sunga empire of central and eastern India from 185 BCE to around 73 BCE. The last ruler of the Mauryan dynasty was Brithadratha. ... Centuries: 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC - 1st century BC Decades: 230s BC 220s BC 210s BC 200s BC 190s BC - 180s BC - 170s BC 160s BC 150s BC 140s BC 130s BC Years: 190 BC 189 BC 188 BC 187 BC 186 BC - 185 BC - 184 BC 183 BC... Centuries: 2nd century BC - 1st century BC - 1st century Decades: 120s BC 110s BC 100s BC 90s BC 80s BC - 70s BC - 60s BC 50s BC 40s BC 30s BC 20s BC Years: 83 BC 82 BC 81 BC 80 BC 79 BC - 78 BC - 77 BC 76 BC 75... The Indo-Greek Kingdom (or sometimes Greco-Indian Kingdom) covered various parts of the northwest and northern Indian subcontinent from 180 BCE to around 10 CE, and was ruled by a succession of more than thirty Hellenic kings[1], often in conflict with each other. ...

Not until some 2,000 years later under Akbar the Great and his great-grandson Aurangzeb would as large a portion of the subcontinent as that ruled by Ashoka again be united under a single ruler. 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. Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar (Persian: Ø¬Ù„Ø§Ù„ Ø§Ù„Ø¯ÛŒÙ† Ù…ØÙ…Ø¯ Ø§Ú©Ø¨Ø±), (alternative spellings include Jellaladin, Celalettin) also known as Akbar the Great (AkbÄr-e-Azam) (October 15, 1542 â€“ October 27, 1605) was the son of Humayun whom he succeeded to become ruler of the Mughal Empire from 1556 until 1605. ... Aurangzeb (borrowed from early Persian, Ø§ÙˆØ±Ù†Ú¯â€ŒØ²ÛŒØ¨ Awrang throne and Zayb beauty, ornament),(November 3, 1618 â€“ March 3, 1707, also known as Alamgir I, was the ruler of the Mughal Empire from 1658 until 1707. ... A subcontinent is a large part of a continent. ... The British Empire in 1897, marked in pink, the traditional colour for Imperial British dominions on maps. ... It has been suggested that Dharma-chakra be merged into this article or section. ... Indian National Flag Flag ratio: 2:3 The National Flag of India was adopted in its present form during an ad hoc meeting of the Constituent Assembly held on the 22 July 1947, a few days before Indias independence from the British on the 15 August, 1947. ...

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 a Jewish American astrophysicist and author. ... In 1978, Michael H. Hart published a book called The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History. ...

A semi-fictionalized portrayal of Ashoka's life was produced as a motion picture recently under the title Asoka. Asoka is a 2001 Bollywood film, a historical drama. ...

Ashoka and Buddhist Kingship

One of the more enduring legacies of Ashoka Maurya was the model that he provided for the relationship between Buddhism and the state. Throughout Theravada Southeastern Asia, the model of rulership embodied by Ashoka replaced the Brahmanist notion of divine kingship that had previously dominated (in the Angkor kingdom, for instance). 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. 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. The history of Buddhism spans from the 6th century BCE to the present, starting with the birth of the Buddha Siddhartha Gautama. ... Angkor was the site of a series of capital cities of the Khmer empire for much of the period from the 9th century to the 15th century CE. Their ruins (13Â°24N, 103Â°51E) are located amid forests and farmland to the north of the Great Lake (Tonle... It has been suggested that bhikkhu be merged into this article or section. ... Buddhism in Thailand is largely of the Theravada school. ...

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

Ashoka in popular culture

Image File history File links AsokaMovie. ... Image File history File links AsokaMovie. ... Asoka is a 2001 Bollywood film, a historical drama. ... Film is a term that encompasses motion pictures as individual projects, as well asâ€”in metonymyâ€”the field in general. ... Hindi (à¤¹à¤¿à¤¨à¥à¤¦à¥€ or à¤¹à¤¿à¤‚à¤¦à¥€ in Devanagari; pronunciation: ), an Indo-European language spoken mainly in northern and central India, is the official language of the Union government of India[1] [2].Hindi is also often considered as the National language of India, [3] although the Constitution of India does not nominate any language... Jaishankar Prasad (1889 - 1937) was one of the most famous figures in modern Hindi literature. ... Combatants Mauryan Empire state of Kalinga Commanders Ashoka Unknown Strength Unknown large quantity Unknown small quantity Casualties 10,000 (approx. ... A conspiracy theory is a theory that defies common historical or current understanding of events, under the claim that those events are the result of manipulations by two or more individuals or various secretive powers or conspiracies. ... In occult lore, the Nine Unknown Men are a millenia-old secret society founded by the Indian Emperor Asoka c. ... Namcos Pac-Man was a hit, and became a cultural phenomenon. ... Civilization IV is a turn-based strategy computer game currently being developed by Sid Meier and his studio Firaxis Games. ... Motto: Satyameva Jayate (Sanskrit) DevanÄgarÄ«: à¤¸à¤¤à¥à¤¯à¤®à¥‡à¤µ à¤œà¤¯à¤¤à¥‡ (International Phonetic Alphabet: []) (Truth Alone Triumphs) Anthem(s): Jana Gaá¹‡a Mana Capital New Delhi Largest city Mumbai Official language(s) Hindi, Sanskrit, English, Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Maithili, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Santali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu and... Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (October 2, 1869 – January 30, 1948) (Devanagari: मोहनदास करमचन्द गांधी, Gujarati મોહનદાસ કરમચંદ ગાંધી), called... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Asok (pronounced Ah-shook) is an intern in the Dilbert comic strip. ... Piers Anthony Dillingham Jacob (born August 6, 1934 in Oxford, England) is a writer in the science fiction and fantasy genres, publishing under the name Piers Anthony. ... Space opera is a subgenre of speculative fiction or science fiction that emphasizes romantic adventure, exotic settings, and larger than life characters. ... The Bio of a Space Tyrant series is a six-book science-fiction series by Piers Anthony based within our solar system. ...

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