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Ashoka: His Early Life Conquests and Propagation of Dhamma

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Ashoka: His Early Life Conquests and Propagation of Dhamma ASHOKA: HIS EARLY LIFE CONQUESTS AND PROPAGATION OF DHAMMA DR.MOVVA SRINIVASA REDDY READER IN HISTORY ANDHRA LOYOLA COLLEGE VIJAYAWADA ASHOKA REIGN PERIOD 272 B.C. TO 232 B.C. Establishment of Mouryan Empire: *After the overthrow of the Nanda dynasty at Magadha, the Mouryas came to power. *Chandra Gupta, was the founder of the Mouryan dynasty, he succeeded to Nanda throne in about 321 B.C at the age of 25. *A Brahmana by name Koutilya, also known as Chanikya was his mentor. *Chandra Gupta belong to a Moriya tribe and he was born into a low caste. He overthrew the last Nanda ruler and occupied his capital Pataliputra, modern Patna. *Chandra Gupta from Patna captured North West India and defeated the Greek Warriors left behind by Alexander. Establishment of Mouryan Empire:(cntnd) Selukos Nikator gained Control over most of Asiatic provinces of the Macedonian Empire and in 305 B.C, He seems to have met Chandragupta in a battle. They signed a treaty and entered into a matrimonial alliance. Selukos Ambasador Megasthaneres lived for many years at the Mouryan Court at Pataliputra. Chandragupta embraced Jainism towards the end of his life and stepped down from the throne in favour of his son, Bindusara. Chandragupta said to have gone to Sravana Belgola near. Mysore, where he deliberately starved himself to death in the approved Jaina fashion. Bindusara, Chandragupta’s son succeeded to throne 297 B.C. He is known to the Greeks as Amitroghat (Sanskrit, Amirtragata. The destroyer of foes). He is said to have contacts with Antichus-1, the Selencid king of Syria. Mouryan Empire under Bindusara extended in the South upto Mysore. Kalinga (modern Orissa) on the eastern coast remained hostile till it was conquered by Ashoka, who succeeded Bindusara. ASHOKA Name of Ashoka was merely a shadowy Mouryan king until 1837 mentioned in the Puranas. On 1837, James Prinsep deciphered an inscription in Brahmi script referring to a king called Devanama Piyadarsi (beloved of the Gods). But even that could not be attributed to Ashoka, But in 1915, Awas discovered another inscription which speaks of Ashoka Piyadassi. Ceylonese chronicle Mahavamsa, established that Ashoka, the Mouryan, Monarch, was the Devanampriya Piyadassi of the inscription. According to some sources, it was said that Ashoka usurped the throne after killing all rival claimants and began his reign as a tyrant, Most important events in his life was the Kalinga war and his conversion to Buddhism and the propagation of his dhamma. Important events in Ashoka life: His birth His usurpation of throne - 272 B.C. His coronation - 268 B.C Kalinga war - 260 B.C. His conversion into Buddhism - 259 B.C. Propagation of Dhamma - 258 B.C. His visit to Lumbini (Buddha’s Birth place) - 248 B.C. III Buddhist Council - 251 B.C. Last Rignal year/year of Death - 232 B.C. Inscriptions issued by Ashoka: Minor Rock Edicts Bairat – (Rajaputana) - Barabara Sahasram – (Bihar) Rupanath (Madhya Pradesh) Rajula Mandhagiri (Andhra Pradesh) Maski – (Karnataka) Other minor inscriptions Sanchi - Madhyapradesh Sarnadh – Uttarpradesh Rummindai – Nepal Nigalisagar – Nepal Alahabad – Ramikosam Major Rock Edicts Kalsi (Uttar Pradesh) Manseri (Pakistan) Girnar (Gujarat) Sopara (Maharastra) Dhauli (Orissa) Yerragudi (Andhra Pradesh) Kalinga war(260 B.C) Kalinga war was fought during his 9th reignal year in 260 B.C. Kalinga was an important region from the trade point of view. It controlled the trade links between north and south, overseas trade. The control over it brings about lot of income. His predecessors failed to gain control over it. Hence he waged this war and won the battle. Conversion to Buddhism: In the Kalinga war there was lot of loss of life causing death to about 1 Lakh people and much more than that number were wounded. This made Ashoka to take to remorse. And slowly he got attracted towards Buddhism and finally gave up his policy of conquest by war. And worked through out the rest of his life for the propagation of peace and non violence. Buddhist literature: Mahavamsa, Deepavamsa in Pali language but they do not belong to Ashokas contemporary period, Divyavadenam, Ashokavadam. MAP- SHOWING MAURYA EMPIRE Sources for the study of Ashoka: Edicts of Ashoka, inscribed on rocks and Pillars. 14 major rock edicts located at Kalsi, Mansehra, Shahbazgarhi, Girnar, Sopara, Yerragudi, Dhauli and Jaugada. Number of minor rock edicts and inscriptions at Bairat, Ruparath, Sahasram, Brahmagiri Govinath, Jatinga Rameswar, Maski, Palikigundu Rajula-Mandgiri, Siddapura, Delhi, Delhi – Meerut, Lauriya – Araraja, Lavinya – Nandagarh, and Rapurna. Other inscriptions were found at the Barabara caves, Rummindei, Nigali Sagar, Allahabad, Sanchi, Sarnath and Bairat. These inscription were given in Greek, Armain, Greeko, Armaic Magadhi – Prakrit Language in Brahmi Script. All the inscription found in India, were issued in Magadhi Prakrit. Inscription found in the areas outside India were found in Aramaic and Greek languages. The Credit of deciphering and printing of Ashokan inscription goes to James Prinsep who worked as mint officer of the English East India, Company around 1837 A.D. Ashoka Dhamma: *Ashoka in order to propagate and educate his subjects about his new Dhamma, he got the Dhamma inscribed on rocks and pillars and got them read in public places. He got the Dhamma Maha-mantri appointed for the purpose of spread and observance of Dhamma by his subjects. *King personally took interest in the spread of Dhamma. He gave up vihara yatras and instead commenced his Dhamma yatras, Through which he personally met his subjects and spoke to them about his Dhamma. He ordered his state officials to make tours to propagate the Dhamma with in their territorial jurisdictions. AHIMSA The Way Ashoka got his people to practice Ahimsa: 1) He said, living beings not useful for food or for any other purpose should not be killed at all. 2)When, animals are in a special condition such as of pregnancy they should not be killed. 3)Even those animals meant for food also should not be killed in a brutal manner. 4)Animals meant for food also should not be killed an certain festive days. 5)Even on agricultural animals pain should not be executed. 6)Ashoka personally set example for his subject by reducing the killing of animals even in his royal kitchen. He personally stopped taking Non-vegetarian meal from his 10th regnal year (258 B.C). Ashoka expounded his policy of Dhamma to eliminate social tension and sectarian conflicts, and to promote harmonious relationship between the diverse elements of the vast empire. Dhamma is the prakrit equivalent of the Sanskrit word Dharma. Ashoka insisted on obstinence from killing. Considerate relationship between parents and children, elders and young people, friends, masters and servants. Various religious sects. Concern for general welfare of the subjects suggest that his Dhamma was on ethical code aimed at building up an attitude of social responsibility among the people. Text and Contents of the Rock Edicts: The 1st Rock edict contains the prohibition of Animal sacrifice and festive gatherings. The relevant text runs thus, “Idha na kimci Jivam arabhitpa prajuhitaryam na ea samajo Kattavyo” Here “no living thing is to be killed and sacrificed and no assembly is to be held” and second Rock edicts speaks about construction of roads, supplied with wells and lined up with shady trees, planting of medical herbs. Medical centres for men and animals, these are measures of social welfare. 3rd rock edict contains a vague reference to religion, it declares that liberality to brahmana and sramanas is a virtue.. 4th rock edict This speaks of religious tolerance 5th rock edict speaks about the introduction of the institution of Dhamma – Mahamattas, the officers of Dhamma. They were made responsible for the practical working of Dhamma. They were permitted entry into the homes of people of all classes of society and even to those of the royal family. 6th rock edict makes relationship between king and subjects via Mahamattas. Mahamattas are told to make their report to the king at any time, irrespective of what he may be occupied with at the moment. Whether he be in the palace partaking of its various pleasures, or engaged in occupation of a private nature, or if he is outside in the park. The officials had access to him at any time. 7th rock edict relates to pleading for toleration amongst all sects. Communities and sects are asked to mingle in their places of habitation. This serves dual purpose of assisting religious toleration and preventing politico – religious sectarianism. 8th rock – edict during his 10th rignal year, Ashoka went on a visit to Bodh-gaya, to sec Bodhi – tree. Following Dhamma – Yatas which he described in his 8th rock edict. Ashoka speaks about stopping the pleasure hunting, wanton killings of animals and unnecessary expenditure and waste of energy involved in these vihara yatras in the place of such yatas, Ashoka started Dhamma tours with manifold objects such as visiting Sramanas and Brahmans and making gifts. Visiting the aged and supporting them with gold. Visiting the people of the country and instructing them in high morals. These yatas are called Dhammayatas introduced in the place of Vihara yatas. 9th rock edicts, it was an indirect attack on the Brahmans and members of other religions groups who lived entirely on the proceeds of performing various ceremonies for the people. Ashoka censures through this edict mothers and wife’s to stop practices such as useless ceremonies during illness, at birth or marriage of a child or when setting out on a journey. 10th rock edicts, denounces fame and glory and reasserts that the only glory he desires is that his subjects should follow the principle of Dhamma. 11th Rock edict is a further explanation of his Dhamma.
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