Ashoka

Ashoka Biography

Ashoka, also called ‘Ashoka the Great’ was an Indian emperor of the Maurya Dynasty. The son of emperor Bindusara, he was the third ruler of the vast Maurya Empire. He is credited to become the first ruler to unify all of India unlike his predecessors who were not able to conquer Kalinga and major parts of South India. He was the grandson of Emperor Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Maurya Empire and the first emperor of unified India as one state. Ashoka was the son of emperor Bindusara and younger half-brother of Susima, an administrator and viceroy of Taxila. Later Susima was killed by Ashoka to capture the thrown and achieve power.

Ashoka was born in Pataliputra of Bihar in 304 BCE. He had several siblings which included many half-brothers and sisters. He was given royal military training at a younger age and was known as a hunter. He earned reputation as a good warrior. Susima was the royal prince in line for the throne after his father’s death. But skills of Ashoka as a warrior made him everyone’s favourite including the royal ministers. . Asoka was a great warrior who brought more success to the King which made Susima and others worried. Insecurity feeling tempted Susima to plan a trap to kill Ashoka.

He persuaded his father to send Ashoka to suppress the revolt of militants in Taxila Province, a headache for the empire for many long years. He dreamt that it would end in Ashoka’s death. But the militants welcomed their favourite Ashoka warmly. With wisdom Ashoka ended the revolt without bloodshed, increasing the jealousy of his elder brothers. However Susima got victory in compelling his father to send Ashoka to Kalinga. Ashoka secretly married a fisherwoman Kaurwaki at that time. In an uprising in Ujjain Province, Ashoka was seriously hurt. But he was rescued by Buddhist monks. He later married Devi – a Buddhist, who treated him as a nurse.

Bindusara later renounced his throne in favour of Ashoka in 272 BCE and went to do penance. Though he wanted to give the throne to the elder son, the ministers supported Ashoka and the king gave up. As per a few records, Ashoka pushed Susima inside a burning coal pit to get rid of him. It’s recorded that Ashoka killed many of his brothers to achieve power and even had nickname, Cruel Ashoka. Ashoka lived with Devi in the kingdom for 8 years and had twin kids - Prince Mahindra and Princess Sanghamitra, who later established Buddhism in Ceylon. The historical Kalinga war happened 8 years after his coronation taking the lives of more than 100,000 people.

The early part of Ashoka's reign was apparently quite bloodthirsty and he conquered Kalinga and major regions of south India, except Tamil Nadu and Kerala which were ruled by the three ancient Tamil kingdoms. But after his conquest of Kalinga, he repented over the acts he has conducted to achieve power. He embraced Buddhism following its principles and later led his full life in popularizing the religion across India. He took on the Buddhists Radhaswami and Manjushri as his teachers. He constructed hundreds of Buddhist buildings and built Buddhist monasteries. He promoted vegetarianism and built many public roads, universities and irrigation system for public. He signed peace treaty with his neighbouring kingdoms.

Ashoka ruled for over 40 years. 50 years after his death, the Mauryan Empire came to an end. He was succeeded by Dasharatha Maurya. The Ashoka Chakra, known as the wheel of Dharma is a part of Indian flag. The emblem of India is an adaptation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath. He had numerous wives and children and many of their names have lost.

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Updated: July 19, 2018