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Introduction of The Great Mauryan Ruler Emperor Ashoka
Ashoka was the most majestic king of Buddhism. The full name of Emperor Ashoka was Devanampriya Ashoka (King Priyadarshi, beloved of the gods). Their reign was from 269 BC to 232 BC in ancient India. The Maurya Empire of Emperor Ashoka of the Maurya Dynasty extended from the Hindu Kush and Taxila ranges in the north to the Godavari River in the south,It reached south of Suvarnagiri Hills and up to Mysore in the east and Bangladesh from Pataliputra to Afghanistan, Iran, Balochistan in the west.Emperor Ashoka's empire covered most of today's India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar.This vast empire has been the largest Indian empire till that time till today.Chakravarti Emperor Ashoka has always been at the top among all the great and powerful emperors and kings of the world.
Early life
Chakravarti Ashoka was the son of Emperor Bindusara and Queen Dharma. In the tradition of Lanka, there is mention of Bindusara's sixteen queens and 101 sons.Of the sons, only three are mentioned by name: Susima, who was the eldest, Ashoka and Tishya.Tishya was Ashoka's younger brother and the youngest. One day Dharma had a dream that his son would become a great emperor.After that King Bindusar made her his queen. Since Dharma was not from a Kshatriya clan, she did not have any special place in the royal family.Ashoka had many (step) brothers and sisters. There was fierce competition among them in childhood. It is said about Ashoka that he was adept in military activities since childhood.Two thousand years later, the influence of Emperor Ashoka can be seen in Asia, mainly in the Indian subcontinent. The symbolic symbol carved during Ashoka's reign, which we also know as the 'Ashoka symbol', is today the national emblem of India.
Expansion of empire
Ashoka's elder brother Sushim was the governor of Takshila at that time. Many people of Indo-Greek origin lived in Takshila.This made the area suitable for rebellion. The rebellion in that area also arose due to Sushim's inefficient administration.On the advice of Susima, King Bindusara sent Prince Ashoka there to suppress the rebellion.On hearing the news of Ashoka's arrival, the rebels stopped the riot and the rebellion ended without any war. However, the rebellion here happened once again during Ashoka's reign, but this time it was crushed with force.
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Battle of kalinga
Chakravarti Emperor Ashoka attacked Kalinga in the 8th year of his coronation (261 BC). After dealing with the internal unrest, he was formally crowned in 269 BC.According to the thirteenth inscription, in the Kalinga war, 1 lakh 50 thousand people were captured and deported, 1 lakh people were killed. 1.5 lakh people were injured, Emperor Ashoka saw the massive massacre with his own eyes. He asked Upagupat (Buddhist monk) for a solution.Moved by this, Emperor Ashoka promoted peace, social progress and religion.
Buddhism
The loss and massacre in the Kalinga war made him bored of war and he became distressed about his actions. To overcome this grief, he came closer to the teachings of Buddha and finally accepted Buddhism. After accepting Buddhism, he also tried to implement it in his life. He stopped hunting and killing animals. He also started donating freely to the sanyasis of all sects. And for the welfare of the people, he built hospitals, schools, and roads, etc.
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Inscription
A total of 33 edicts issued by Emperor Ashoka have been found, which Ashoka engraved on pillars, rocks, and cave walls during his reign from 269 BCE to 231 BCE.
These are found in various parts of modern Bangladesh, India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nepal and are among the oldest evidence of the existence of Buddhism.
Death
Ashoka ruled for about 36 years, after which he died around 232 BC. He had many children and wives, but not much is known about them. His son, Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra contributed to the propagation of Buddhism. After the death of Ashoka, the Maurya dynasty lasted for about 50 years.
