Question

about emperor ashoka

Answer 1

Ashoka was an ancient Indian emperor of the Maurya Dynasty who ruled almost all of the Indian subcontinent from c. 268 to 232 BCE. One of India's greatest emperors, Ashoka reigned over a realm that stretched from the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan to the modern state of Bangladesh in the east. It covered the entire Indian subcontinent except parts of present-day Tamil Nadu, Karnataka andKerala. The empire's capital was Pataliputra(in Magadha, present-day Patna), with provincial capitals at Taxila and Ujjain.

In about 260 BCE, Ashoka waged a bitterly destructive war against the state of Kalinga(modern Odisha).He conquered Kalinga, which none of his ancestors had done. He embraced Buddhism after witnessing the mass deaths of the Kalinga War, which he himself had waged out of a desire for conquest. "Ashoka reflected on the war in Kalinga, which reportedly had resulted in more than 100,000 deaths and 150,000 deportations, ending at around 200,000 deaths."Ashoka converted gradually to Buddhism beginning about 263 BCE.He was later dedicated to the propagation of Buddhism across Asia, and established monuments marking several significant sites in the life of Gautama Buddha. "Ashoka regarded Buddhism as a doctrine that could serve as a cultural foundation for political unity." Ashoka is now remembered as a philanthropic administrator. In the Kalinga edicts, he addresses his people as his "children", and mentions that as a father he desires their good.

Ashoka's name "Aśoka" means "painless, without sorrow" in Sanskrit (the a privativumand śoka "pain, distress"). In his edicts, he is referred to as Devānāmpriya (PaliDevānaṃpiya or "The Beloved of the Gods"), and Priyadarśin (Pali Piyadasī or "He who regards everyone with affection"). His fondness for his name's connection to theSaraca asoca tree, or the "Ashoka tree" is also referenced in the Ashokavadana.

Answer 2

Ashoka was born in 294 BC. He was the second son to Bindusar, the King of Patliputra. After his father died, his elder brother Suman was to take over the reins of the Kingdom. But most of the ministers found Ashoka more capable and thus decided that he should become the King. Ashoka accepted the throne and was crowned as King in 273 BC. During his region, the country made progress in terms of science and technology as well as in medicine and surgery. Ashoka, himself worked day and night for the welfare of his people. He knew exactly what was going on in each part of his vast territory. It was during the Kalinga war, that he earned the title Ashoka the Great'. It was the last battle of his life. He died in 232 BC.