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Ashoka

"Ashok" and "Asoka" redirect here. For Ashoka (disambiguation), see Ashok (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Ahsoka (disambiguation).

Ashoka
Chakravartin (King of Kings)
Mahasamrat (Emperor of Emperors)
Magadhapati (Lord of Magadha)
Magadhadhiraj (Emperor of Magadh)
Priyadarśin (Humane)
Devanampriya (Beloved of the Gods)
Mahasammata janapadasthamaviryaprapt
A c. 1st century BCE/CE relief from Sanchi, showing Ashoka on his chariot, visiting the Koliyas at Ramagrama.[1][2]
3rd Mauryan Emperor
Reignc. 268 – c. 232 BCE[3]
Coronation269 BCE;[3] 2293 years ago
PredecessorBindusara
SuccessorDasharatha
Bornc. 304 BCE
Pataliputra, Magadha, Maurya Empire
(modern Patna, Bihar, India)
Died232 BCE (aged c. 71 – 72)
Pataliputra, Magadha, Maurya Empire
Spouses
Issue
DynastyMaurya
FatherEmperor Bindusara Maurya
MotherEmpress Subhadrangi or Dharma[note 1]
ReligionBuddhism[4][5]
Maurya Empire
(322–180 BCE)
Ashoka pillar at Vaishali, Bihar Lomas Rishi, Barabar Caves
Chandragupta 322–297 BCE
Bindusara 297–273 BCE
Ashoka 273/268–232 BCE
Dasharatha 232–224 BCE
Samprati 224–215 BCE
Shalishuka 215–202 BCE
Devavarman 202–195 BCE
Shatadhanvan 195–187 BCE
Brihadratha 187–180 BCE

Ashoka (Sanskrit pronunciation: [ɐˈɕoːkɐ], IAST: Aśoka; c. 304 – 232 BCE), popularly known as Ashoka the Great, was the third Mauryan Emperor of Magadha in the Indian subcontinent during c. 268 to 232 BCE. His empire covered the largest part of the Indian subcontinent, stretching from present-day Afghanistan in the west to present-day Bangladesh in the east, with its capital at Pataliputra. A patron of Buddhism, he is credited with playing an important role in the spread of Buddhism across ancient Asia.

Ashoka's edicts state that during his eighth regnal year (c. 260 BCE), he conquered Kalinga after a brutal war. Ashoka subsequently devoted himself to the propagation of "dhamma" or righteous conduct, the major theme of the edicts. Ashoka's edicts suggest that a few years after the Kalinga War, he was gradually drawn towards Buddhism. The Buddhist legends credit Ashoka with establishing a large number of stupas, patronising the Third Buddhist council, supporting Buddhist missionaries, making generous donations to the sangha.

Ashoka's existence as a historical emperor had almost been forgotten, but since the decipherment in the 19th century of sources written in Brahmi script, Ashoka holds a reputation as one of the greatest Indian emperors. The emblem of the modern Republic of India is an adaptation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka. Ashoka's wheel, the Ashoka Chakra is adopted at the centre of the National Flag of India.

  1. ^ Lahiri 2015, pp. 295–296.
  2. ^ Singh 2017, p. 162.
  3. ^ a b Singh 2008, p. 331.
  4. ^ Strong, John S. (2002–2003). Faure, Bernard (ed.). "Aśoka's Wives and the Ambiguities of Buddhist Kingship". Cahiers d'Extrême-Asie. 13 (1). Paris: École française d'Extrême-Orient: 35–54. doi:10.3406/asie.2002.1176. eISSN 2117-6272. ISSN 0766-1177. JSTOR 44167352. Archived from the original on 8 August 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  5. ^ Lahiri 2015, p. 219.


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