History of Ashoka

Ashoka the Great was an Indian emperor of the Maurya Dynasty who ruled almost the entire Indian subcontinent from around 268 to 232 BCE. He is primarily known for his transformation from a cruel, expansionist ruler to a benevolent king who embraced Buddhism and promoted a policy of peace and moral conduct (dhamma). 

Born around 304 BCE in Pataliputra (modern-day Patna), Ashoka was the son of Emperor Bindusara and grandson of Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Mauryan Empire. Though not his father’s favored son, Ashoka proved to be a skilled commander and administrator, serving as governor of Ujjain and suppressing a revolt in Taxila. A power struggle followed Bindusara’s death, in which Ashoka violently seized the throne, reportedly killing several half-brothers. Due to his initial ruthlessness, he was known as “Chandashoka” or “fierce Ashoka”. 

The pivotal turning point in Ashoka’s life was the Kalinga War around 260 BCE. Although he successfully conquered the independent kingdom of Kalinga (present-day Odisha), the war resulted in massive bloodshed, with over 100,000 people killed and many more suffering from the destruction. 

Witnessing this carnage firsthand filled Ashoka with deep remorse. He renounced violence and military conquest, embracing the teachings of the Buddha, particularly the principles of ahimsa (non-violence) and dhamma (righteousness or moral law). He became “Dharmashoka” or “pious Ashoka”. 

Following his conversion, Ashoka ruled with a focus on his subjects’ well-being and the spread of Buddhism. 

Ashoka died in 232 BCE after nearly 40 years of rule. His empire declined within 50 years of his death, and his name was largely forgotten until his edicts were deciphered in the 19th century by British scholar James Prinsep. Today, Ashoka is celebrated as one of India’s greatest emperors; the Lion Capital of Ashoka from Sarnath is the National Emblem of India, and the Ashoka Chakra adorns the center of the Indian national flag.