describe in detail about reforms introduced by Ashoka..
Answers
Explanation:
Birth and Early Life: Accession:
The romantic hypothesis based on Seleukos entering into a matrimonial alliance with Chandragupta Maurya, Asoka’s grandfather, which according to Sylvain Levi “introduced a Greek Princess in the Mauryan harem” that Asoka was either the grandson or son of the Greek Princess remains unproved.
That he was not the son of the Greek Princess is proved on the evidence of Asokavadana, Divyavadana and Vamsatthapakasini.
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While both Divyavadana and Asokavadana give the name of Asoka’s mother as Subhadrangi, daughter of a Brahman of Champa Vamsatthapakasini gives her name as Darma. There is a legend behind the name ‘Asoka’. It is said-that Queen Subhadrangi could not enjoy her rightful position of the royal consort due to some palace intrigue. When she ultimately gained her position as royal consort and a son was born to her she named him Asoka, i.e., no sorrow and when second son was born she called him Vitasoka, i.e., end of sorrow.
Two points, however, emerge for consideration:
(i) If the matrimonial alliance between Seleukos and Chandragupta means a marriage between a Greek Princess and Bindusara, then the palace intrigue in keeping the princess separate from the King (Bindusara) may have some meaning as the princess was of an outlandish origin,
(ii) This may as well somewhat explain the opposition of; some of the brothers of Asoka to latter’s succession to the throne which led to a struggle accounting for the interregnum of four years from 273—269 B.C.
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On Bindusara’s death his son Asoka succeeded him and with himbegins a memorable chapter of the history of India. He has been called the ‘Greatest of Kings’ by H. G. Wells and by common consent he has been given the highest place of honour among the Kings and Emperors of the World.
Our knowledge of the history of his reign is based on inscriptions left by him engraved on rocks and pillars which from the very nature of permanence stand unaltered and without any interpolation till today. But although his inscriptions are an excellent source of our information of his reign they do not throw any light on his early life. We have to depend solely upon the Buddhist texts like Divyavadana and the Ceylonese chronicles like Dipavamsa, Maha-vamsa etc.
According to Mahavamsa Asoka while a Prince was appointed as Viceroy at Ujjain. Two later Buddhist texts, the Asokasutra and Kunalasutra state that Asoka was the Viceroy at Taxila. But according to Asokavadana we know that a revolt took place at Taxila during the reign of Bindusara due to the oppressive rule of the local officials and Asoka was sent there to put it down.
This fact is also corroborated by an Aramic inscription found in a house at Sirkap in Taxila: It may be that after the revolt had been quelled Asoka continued to stay at Taxila for some time. This might have led to the confusion in the Buddhist texts Asokasutra and Kunalasutra where Asoka has been stated as the Viceroy of Taxila. Most of the evidences bear out that Asoka was the Viceroy at Ujjain before he became the King.
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