Asoka the Great
Barbara Yen
Buddhist Gem Fellowship
26 July 2011
Personal Profile
 Full name: Asoka Bindusara
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Asoka means ‘without any sorrow’
Born: 304 BC
Birthplace: Pataliputra, Patna
Reign: 274–232 BC
Coronation: 270 BC
Titles: Samraat Chakravartin (Emperor of
Emperors), Devanampriya (Beloved Of the Gods),
Dhammashoka (Follower of Dharma), Piyadasī
(Regards everyone with affection)
Wives: Rani Tishyaraksha, Rani Padmavati, Rani
Kaurwaki, Consort: Maharani Devi
Children: Mahinda, Sanghamitra (twins born by 1st
wife, Devi), Teevala, Kunala
Grandfather: Chandragupta Maurya (famous ruler)
Religious beliefs: Hindhuism, later embraced
Buddhism
Passed away: 232 BC, aged 72
 A Mauryan ruler known as Asoka the Great as he
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is one of greatest & most exemplary rulers in
India & world history
Under him, whole of India was united with able
administration
Played critical role in helping make Buddhism a
world religion
Advocated state & individual morality based on
Buddhist values of compassion, truth, tolerance,
moderation & respect for all life:
State morality - what he based his administration
upon, to lead to more just, humane & spiritually
inclined society
Individual morality - respect towards parents,
elders, teachers, friends, servants, ascetics
& brahmins (Sigalovada Sutta)
Expansion of Buddhism at time of king Asoka,
according to his Edicts
 In his youth, Asoka excelled in what he was taught warfare or reading holy scriptures
 Reputation as frightening & heartless warrior,
fearsome hunter
 Known as ‘Chand Asoka’ meaning Asoka the fierce,
ruthless & blood thirsty
 Became king of Magadha around 268 B.C after
father’s death
 Able & courageous king but believed to have killed
many of his half brothers in order to seize throne
 Empire spread across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh,
Burma, Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, Egypt
 8 yrs later, conquored Kalinga (present day Orissa)
 Approx. 100,000 people killed & 150,000 deported.
10,000 from his army died
 Battle ground like graveyard & waters of River
Daya turned red with blood
 Asoka emerged victorious but he was heartbroken with shame, guilt & disgust
 His famous monologue:
“What have I done? If this is victory, what's
defeat then? Is this victory or defeat? Is this
justice or injustice? Is it gallantry or a rout? Is
it valor to kill innocent children & women? Do I
do it to widen my empire & for prosperity or to
destroy other's kingdom & splendor? One has
lost her husband, someone else a father,
someone a child, someone an unborn infant..
What's this debris of the corpses? Are these
marks of victory or defeat? Are these vultures,
crows, eagles messengers of death or evil?”
 Pledged never to wage war again
Conversion to Buddhism
 To seek solace, Asoka converted to Buddhism &
made pilgrimage to Buddhist holy sites
 “Sword is not as powerful as love; hatred gives
birth to hatred & love gives birth to love & mercy”
 “Sound of drum is replaced by sound of Dhamma”
 “Conquest by Dhamma considers to be best
conquest”
 His troops became his police force
 “Law of Dharma is excellent. What does it consist
of? Many good deeds, compassion, generosity,
truthfulness, purity of life.”
 Mission – to spread peace & prosperity in his
kingdom & lead people to a higher level of living
 Combined complexity of a king & simplicity of
Buddhist monk
At Place where Asoka gave up war
Social Development
 Asoka’s belief - an able king should be responsible
 Progress for people through Dhamma was achieved
by 2 means - by Dhamma regulations & by
persuasion
 “Ceremonies can be performed but they bear little
or doubtful fruit
 “What bears great fruit is ceremony of Dhamma
 “Involves proper behavior towards servants &
employees, respect for teachers, restraint
towards living beings, generosity towards all
 Father, son, brother, master, friend, neighbor
should say: "This ceremony is good, this should
be performed, this I shall do.”
 “If they achieve their purpose, it is only in this
world but ceremony of Dhamma is timeless
 “One gets great merit both here & in hereafter”
 1st emperor in history to ban slavery, hunting or
fishing for pleasure & deforestation
 Provided humanitarian help - doctors, & engineers
to his neighboring countries for humans & animals
 He helped students, the poor, orphans & elderly
with social, political & economic help
 Allowed women to be educated
 Built roads, hospitals, rest houses
 Constructed irrigation systems for trade &
agriculture
 “Along roads I have dug wells, watering-places &
planted fruit trees for benefit of humans & animals
in this empire & neighboring countries
(Edicts of Asoka, Rock Edict 2)
 “Wherever medical herbs, roots or fruits suitable
for humans or animals are not available, I have
them imported & grown”
 “Past kings used to go on pleasure tours, animal
hunts & entertainment
 “But our King made himself accessible to his
subjects
 “Went on Dhamma & inspection tours to ensue
reforms & projects were carried out
 “Expected his district officers to follow his eg.
 “Visited people in countryside, instruct & discuss
Dhamma with them as is suitable
 “Offered gifts to Brahmans & ascetics, gifts of gold
to aged. It is this that delights him
 “I have ordered my children & children of other
queens to distribute gifts so that noble deeds of
Dhamma & practice of Dhamma will be promoted”
 “In my women's quarters, they organise charitable
activities here & in provinces
 “Patronised architects & artists
 “Encouraged savings & not to spend on immoral
acts”
Human Rights
 Against violence & discrimination to humans & all
beings
 Treated his subjects as equals regardless of religion,
politics, gender & caste
 Permitted women to enter religious order
 Reformed Judicial system - more fair, less harsh,
less open to abuse
 Showed mercy to prisoners - those sentenced to
death were given 3 day stay of execution to prepare
appeals
 “In 26 yrs since my coronation, prisoners have been
given amnesty on 25 occasions”
 “Prisoners sentenced to death can give gifts in order
to make merit for next world or observe fasts. It is
my wish that in this way, even if prisoners’ time are
limited, they can prepare for next world.”
 Allowed them leave for the outside 1 day of year
 Requested same merciful actions from neighboring
countries
 “All should be well-learned in the good doctrines of
other religions to promote tolerance, mutual respect,
religious harmony & protection of all religions”
 “To harm another's religion is a harm to one's
own religion.”
 Gave donations to ascetics of Jainism, Hinduism
 Invited Buddhists & non-Buddhists for religious
conferences
 Believed that a king should treat his subjects same
way a father does. "All humans are my children. As
every father desires good & happiness of his
children, I wish that all humans should be well &
happy always.“
 Believed that happiness of people was happiness
of the ruler
 Kingdoms surrounding his were turned to wellrespected friends, in peaceful co-existence
 Sent monastics to teach at various regions in
India & beyond its borders
 Built thousands of temples & stupas in India Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya, Sanchi Stupa,
Sarnath, Sariputta Stupa & Barabar cave temples
in Bihar; edicts in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh,
Dhamek
 Helped to develop Nalanda & Taxila Universities
 Inspired Buddhist monastics to compose sacred
religious texts & gave help for this
 “Whoever splits Sangha which is now united, is
not to be admitted into it. Whoever, whether
monk or nun, splits Sangha is to be made to
wear white clothes & reside somewhere other
than in monastery (Minor Pillar Edicts 2)
 Organised 3rd Buddhist Council (c. 250 BC) at
Pataliputra (today's Patna) to resolve disputes
among monks
Animal Rights
 “Respect for all living creatures, refrain from killing”
 “No living beings are to be slaughtered or offered
in sacrifice” (1st Rock Edict at Girnar)
 Reduced killing of hundreds of animals in his
kitchen to only 3 a day & in time, not even these
were killed
 Animals giving milk to their young & young ones
less than 6 mths old are protected
 Set list of protected animals, fish, birds, insects
 Prohibited cruelty to domestic & wild animals
 Built world’s 1st animal hospital (Edict
 Established wildlife reserves
 Forests not to be burnt without reason
 One animal is not to be fed to another
 Instituted law against hunting & fishing for sport
& limited them for consumption only
 Against rituals & banned Vedic animal sacrifices
 Introduced vegetarianism on certain days
Good Governance
 Appointed ‘Dhamma Mahamatras’ (religious officers)
to establish & promote welfare & happiness of all
devoted to Dhamma
 Work among soldiers, chiefs, Brahmans,
householders, women, the poor, aged, proper
treatment of prisoners & those devoted to Dhamma,
among peoples on western borders - so that they
may be free from harassment
 “They will go on tours of inspection each year to
ascertain if judicial officers are acting according to
king's instructions”
 “Whatever efforts I am making is to repay debt I
owe to all beings to assure their happiness in this
life & attain heaven in the next”
 Credited with 1st serious attempt to incorporate
Buddhist values in Govt. & set new model of
statesmanship
 He sought to legitimise his rule not through descent
from heaven, but by supporting & earning approval
of people & monastics (sangha)
Asoka Pillars & Rock Edicts
 Erected pillars to mark main sites in life of Buddha
 Inscribed on rocks & pillars his policies & reforms
based on Buddha’s teachings in India, Nepal, Pakistan
& Afghanistan
 Pillars made of sandstone, btw 40 & 50 ft. high &
weigh 50 tons each
 Quarried at Chunar, south of Varanasi, dragged,
hundreds of miles, to where they were erected
 10 pillars, 10 major rock edicts, 19 minor rock edicts
remained
 4 texts used - Kharoshti, Greek, Aramic & Brahmi
 Inscription 1st deciphered in 1837 by James Prinsep in
Delhi
 Most remarkable set of inscriptions in world
 Provide knowledge about his life, administration,
spread of Buddhism in India, Pakistan, Rome,
Greece, Egypt & Mediterranean (Edict 13)
 Record his compassion & most remarkable - his
remorse after the wars
 Edicts described Asoka as "Beloved of Gods“
 Asoka: “This edict has been written that “people
might follow it & it might endure for long time. One
who follows it properly will do something good”
 “Written so that it might endure long & it may
please my successors to devote themselves to
promoting Dhamma & not allow it to decline”
 “So that my sons & great-grandsons may not
consider making new conquests, or that if military
conquests are made, they be done with
forbearance & light punishment, or better still,
they only consider making conquest by Dhamma”
 “These Dhamma texts, reverend sirs, I desire that
all monks & nuns may constantly listen to &
remember. Likewise laymen & laywomen, I have
this written that you may know my intentions”
(Minor Rock Edict 3)
 Edicts recorded donors from 4 fold sangha to
building of temples & stupas
 Asoka: “Whether I am at dinner or in ladies’
apartments, in my private study, in royal mews, in
my carriage or walking in palace gardens, wherever
I may be, I have given orders that any matter of
importance shall be reported to me without delay”
 “I am never completely satisfied with my efforts &
way business is despatched. It is welfare of all people
that I must work for & that means constant effort”
 “Whatever exertions I may make are all for one end that I may discharge my debt to all living beings &
that while I may succeed in making some people
happy here, they may in next world attain to
heaven.”
 Assured his unconquored neighbours that they could
live without fear of him. “All men are my children.
What I desire for my own children, I desire their
welfare & happiness both in this & next world, that I
desire for all men.”
 His inscriptions are so “transparently honest - no
boastings of his treasures, wealth, pomp or power,
no vain, glorious inscriptions like other emperors
 Most famous pillar at Sarnath - marks site where
Buddha preached 1st sermon to 5 monks
 4 lions placed back to back, keeping guard over
‘Chakra’ (Wheel of Righteousness) of Buddha
 Lion symbolises Asoka's imperial rule, kingship of
Buddha & signifies his enlightenment
 On 22 July 1947, ‘Chakra’ adopted at centre of
National flag of India, replacing spinning wheel of
pre-independence versions of flag
 ‘Chakra’ also became National Emblem of India
 Following Asoka's example, kings established
monasteries, funded construction of stupas &
supported ordination of monks in their kingdom
 “Kalinga war thus became one of decisive events in
history of world” (Vincent Smith in ‘Oxford History of India’)
Asoka’s pillar to mark site where Buddha was
born
Asoka’s pillar at Bodhgaya, place of Buddha’s
Enlightenment
Pillar records Asoka building hospitals for
humans & animals
These pillars have Edicts of King Asoka
Inscriptions on one of the Pillars
One of the Stupas
Stupa was built by Asoka around 3rd century
BCE
Stupa & Asoka Pillar, Vaishali, Bihar
Stupa constructed by Asoka
Spread of Buddhism outside India
 Asoka promoted this peaceful religion by sending
many monks throughout India & countries eg.
Sri Lanka, Burma south east Asian countries,
Egypt & west Asian countries
 His son, Venerable Mahindra & daughter Venerable
Sanghamitra (friend of Sangha) established
Buddhism in Sri Lanka by converting King, Queen
& their people
 Following Ashoka's example, kings established
monasteries, funded construction of stupas &
supported ordination of monks in their kingdom
Ven.Sanghamitta brought branch of Bodhi
tree to Sri Lanka
Recognition for Asoka
 1992 - Asoka ranked No.53 on Michael H. Hart’s
list of most influential figures in history
 2001 – His life was produced by Bollywood titled
‘Asoka.’ Film was directed by Santosh Sivan &
stars Shahrukh Khan as Ashoka & Kareena Kapoor
as Kaurwaki, a princess of Kalinga
 "Amidst tens of thousands of names of monarchs
that crowd columns of history, their majesties &
graciousness & serenities & royal highnesses & the
like, name of Asoka shines & shines, almost alone
- a star.“ (British historian H.G. Wells)
 According to many European & Asian historians,
age of Asoka was age of light
Conclusion
 First known emperor in history who taught lesson
of unity, peace, equality & love
 Reflects his deep spirituality – kindness, selfreflection, truthfulness, gratitude, purity,
enthusiasm, loyalty, self-control & love of Dhamma
 Asoka's subsequent aim was not to expand
territories but welfare of his subjects & animals
 No evidence of mutiny or civil war during his reign
 Today, with widespread disillusionment, in search
for political policy that goes beyond greed
(capitalism), hatred & delusion (dictatorships),
Asoka's edicts can make meaningful contribution
to development of a more just & spiritual political
system
Thank You