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Ashoka

Also known as Ashok, Ashoka the Great, Ashoka Maurya, Samrat Ashok, Chakravarty Samrat Ashok, Asoka, Mauryan Ashoka, Ashoka Samrat

Ashoka, also known as Asoka or Aśoka ( ; , ; – 232 BCE), most commonly known as Ashoka the Great, was Emperor of Magadha from until his death, and the third ruler from the Mauryan dynasty. His empire covered a large 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 an important role in the spread of Buddhism across ancient Asia.

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Ashoka was a male human born in 304 BCE in Patna and died in 232 BCE in the same location. He was a citizen of the Maurya empire and a member of the Maurya dynasty. His father was Bindusara and his mother was Subhadrangi. He had a sibling named Vitashoka. Ashoka served as a politician, emperor, and Buddhist monk. He was a student of Upagupta and was influenced by The Buddha. His religion or worldview was Buddhism.

Ashoka’s spouses were Tishyaraksha, Karuvaki, Devi, and Padmavati. His children were Kunala, Mahinda, Sangamitta, and Tivala. He is described by sources including the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, Encyclopædia Britannica 11th edition, Pauly–Wissowa, and The Nuttall Encyclopædia. His name in his native language is अशोक or असोक. He is referenced by 3,411 other encyclopedia articles.

Synthesized by Vinony from 32 facts across 5 sources: Wikidata, Crossref, Open Library, Last.fm, Vinony graph. Generated from structured data (not the Wikipedia text) and checked against those facts — may still contain errors.

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Quotes

“Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, has caused this Dhamma edict to be written. Here (in my domain) no living beings are to be slaughtered or offered in sacrifice. Formerly, in the kitchen of Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, hundreds of thousands of animals were killed every day to make curry. But now with the writing of this Dhamma edict only three creatures, two peacocks and a deer are killed, and the deer not always. And in time, not even these three creatures will be killed.”
“Respect for mother and father is good, generosity to friends, acquaintances, relatives, Brahmans and ascetics is good, not killing living beings is good, moderation in spending and moderation in saving is good. The Council shall notify the Yuktas about the observance of these instructions in these very words.”
“To do good is difficult. One who does good first does something hard to do. I have done many good deeds, and, if my sons, grandsons and their descendants up to the end of the world act in like manner, they too will do much good. But whoever amongst them neglects this, they will do evil. Truly, it is easy to do evil.”
“Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, desires that all religions should reside everywhere, for all of them desire self-control and purity of heart. But people have various desires and various passions, and they may practice all of what they should or only a part of it. But one who receives great gifts yet is lacking in self-control, purity of heart, gratitude and firm devotion, such a person is mean.”
“All men are my children. What I desire for my own children, and I desire their welfare and happiness both in this world and the next, that I desire for all men. You do not understand to what extent I desire this, and if some of you do understand, you do not understand the full extent of my desire.”
“Beloved-of-the-Gods speaks thus: Father and mother should be respected and so should elders, kindness to living beings should be made strong and the truth should be spoken. In these ways, the Dhamma should be promoted. Likewise, a teacher should be honored by his pupil and proper manners should be shown towards relations. This is an ancient rule that conduces to long life. Thus should one act.”

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Key facts

Royalty.name: Ashoka the Great
Royalty.title: Mahārājādhirāja ChakravartinDevanampriya Priyadarsin Magadharaje
Royalty.image: Ashoka's visit to the Ramagrama stupa Sanchi Stupa 1 Southern gateway.jpg
Royalty.image_size: 285px
Royalty.caption: A relief from Sanchi, showing Ashoka on his chariot, visiting the Ramagrama
Royalty.succession: 3rd Mauryan Emperor
Royalty.reign: 232 BCE
Royalty.predecessor: Bindusara
Royalty.successor: Dasharatha
Royalty.death_date: 232 BCE (aged 72)
Royalty.father: Bindusara
Royalty.mother: Subhadrangi or Dharma
Royalty.dynasty: Maurya
Royalty.religion: Supported Buddhism specifically, but he claimed he placed Buddhism side by side with Brahmanism, Jainism, and the Ajivikas in his edicts and stressed that his dhamma was not the doctrine of one religion but was universal but also other religions, propagated dharma ("righteousness")
Royalty.succession1: Crown Prince of Magadha
Royalty.predecessor1: Susima
Royalty.successor1: Kunala
Royalty.succession2: Viceroy of Avantirastra

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~90 min read

Encyclopedic overview

56 sections

Contents

Sources of information
Inscriptions
Buddhist legends
Other sources
Alternative interpretation of the epigraphic evidence
Names and titles
Date
Ancestry
As a prince
Rebellion at Taxila
Viceroy of Ujjain
Ascension to the throne
Date of ascension
Reign before Buddhist influence
Kalinga war and conversion to Buddhism
Kalinga war
First contact with Buddhism
Reign after Buddhist influence
Construction of stupas and temples
Propagation of Dharma
Third Buddhist Council
Buddhist missions
Violence after conversion
Family
Consorts
Sons
Daughters
Brothers
Imperial extent
Religion and philosophy
Relationship with Buddhism
Other religions
Dharma
Animal welfare
Foreign relations
Hellenistic world
Legends about past lives
Last years
Tissarakkha as the empress
Death
Archaeological remains
Architecture
Symbols
Inscriptions and rock-edicts
Coinage
Modern scholarship
Rediscovery
Perceptions and historiography
Impact of pacifism
In art, film and literature
See also
Notes
References
Works cited
Further reading
External links

The Edicts of Ashoka state that during his eighth regnal year (), 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, and making generous donations to the sangha.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Ashoka” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.