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Maurya Dynasty: Study Notes Part II

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Maurya Dynasty: Study Notes

We have get information about Chandragupta Maurya and His heir Bindusara in the first post of Maurya dynasty. If anyone wants to read about Chandragupta Maurya and Bindusara, then click here.
Now, I am going to provide the important facts about Ashoka who was the great emperor of Maurya dynasty.

Ashoka (268-232 B.C)




  • Ashoka was most popular and the greatest emperor of Maurya dynasty. James Prinsep was successed to read  an inscription in 1837 AD which was written in Brahmi script. The word "Devanam Piyadassi" i.e love of God was described in this inscription of  Brahmi Script for  a  king who loves the God  (Devanam piyadassi). But, James Princep have no idea to this inscription that it may be related to Samrat Ashoka.
    But, Maski inscription was discovered in 1919 AD in which Ashoka Piyadassi was described. The Word "Piyadassi" was also used for Ashoka in the "Mahavamsa" (An ancient volume of Sri Lanka . Thus, it is assure that the great emperor Ashoka used the name "Piyadassi" as his second name in his inscriptions.
    From the various source of Baudh literature, it was also found that after the death of Bindusara, his sons  were conflicted together for the throne of the empire of Bindusara in which Ashoka got succeed and he became emperor in 268 B.C.
    The battle of Kalinga (260 B.C) was the most important phenomena of the life of Ashoka. Ashoka was win this battle but his heart was changed to see the huge massacre and  he adopted Buddha religion.  The third Buddhist Council was held in Patliputra in 250 B.C whose chairman was Moggaliputta Tissa. Ashoka believes in the theory of "Theravada". He believes that Theravada is the real religion but he never described about this theory in his any inscription.  Ashoka selected some Hon'ble Buddhist monk after the third Buddhist Council and sent them to various region  for the publicity  of Buddhism. The description of the State of South India was described in the "Large Inscription II" of Ashoka.
    Ashoka sent his son (Mahendra) and daughter (Sanghamitra) to Sri Lanka for the publicity of Buddhism. They also carried a branch of  the Peepal tree under which Buddha got Buddhism to Sri Lanka. That Peepal tree is also present in Sri Lanka till now but Original Peepal tree of Bodhgaya was destroyed by the ruler of Gaur "Shashank" in Seventh Century. The description of the contemporary emperor of Greeks was mentioned in the Large Inscription III of Ashoka . The details of the mother of Ashoka was described in "Ashokavadana", Vanshthpkasini   and Divyavadana. According to Ashokavadana, the mother's name of Ashoka was Subhadrangi and she was daughter of a Brahman family of Champa.
    According to Mahavamsa, Asandhimitra was the main queen of Ashoka for a long time. She was very humble and polity queen.  After the death of Asandhimitra,  Tiss Rakh became main queen of Ashoka.
    According to Boudh Source, Tiss Rakh was not a good queen. She  decimated the Bodhi tree. According to Allahabad Pillar of Ashoka, Karuvaki was  other queen of Ashoka. Her religious works and social work of Karuvaki was described in this piller. She was mother of Tivar. In fact, the original name of Tiss Rakh was Karuvaki and she changed her name after becoming the main queen of Ashoka. The description of the third queen of Ashoka named Padmavati  in Divyavadana, She was mother of Kunal. Jalouk was also a son of Ashoka. The description of Jalouk was described in Rajatarangini but there was no any information about the mother of Jalouk in Rajatarangini. According to Ancient Sources, Ashoka have two daughter-Sanghamitra and Charumati. The description of Sanghamitra(,esp for publicity of Buddha Religion in Sri Lanka) was mentioned in Mahavansha.  Other daughter of Ashoka was Charumati who married Devapal (the ruler of Nepal).
    The description of two grandsons of Ashoka was several times. These are Samprati (Son of Kunal) and Dashrath.


  • Summary

    Ashoka
    Period: 268 - 232 B.C
    James Prinsep was successed  to read the inscription of Ashoka in 1837 A.D
    The Maski Inscription of Ashoka Was discovered in 1915 A.D
    The battle of Kalinga was the most important phenomena of the life of Ashoka
    The battle of Kalinga was held in 260 B.C
    After the battle of Kalinga, Ashoka adopted Boudh Religion.
    The third Buddhist Council was held in Patliputra in 250 B.C
    Some Ancient Volumes like Vanspthakini, Divyavadan and Ashokavadan were related to
    Ashoka.
    The mother's name of Ashoka was Subhadrangi.
    Pathredi Fanthelar discovered the inscription of Ashoka in 1750 A.D
    There was total 14 inscription of Ashoka
    The heir of Ashoka was his grandson  Dasaratha.
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