Contents
Ashoka
Ruling much of the Indian subcontinent and issuing edicts promoting dhamma after the Kalinga war.
Rock edicts · Pillar inscriptions
- Born
- Unknown
- Birthplace
- Indian subcontinent
- Died
- 232 BCE
More people
Ashoka
A Mauryan emperor whose inscriptions provide unusually direct evidence of ancient kingship. He became a major patron of Buddhism, while his edicts addressed conduct across religious communities.
Early life
Mauryan dynasty
Was a son of Bindusara and grandson of Chandragupta Maurya.
Uncertain beginnings
His precise birth date and many stories of his youth are not securely established.
Career
- c. 268 BCE
Takes the throne
Became ruler of the Mauryan Empire.
- c. 260 BCE
Kalinga war
Conquered Kalinga in a devastating campaign described in his inscriptions.
- Later reign
Dhamma edicts
Issued public inscriptions discussing welfare, restraint and religious respect.
Edicts & legacy
Rock edicts
Set out royal policies and reflections, including remorse over Kalinga.
Pillar inscriptions
Placed messages of governance and conduct across the empire.
Buddhist patronage
Supported Buddhist institutions and the religion’s wider spread.
After his reign
Modern symbols
India’s national emblem adapts his Sarnath lion capital; the national flag includes the Ashoka Chakra.
Rediscovery
Deciphering Brahmi inscriptions in the nineteenth century helped recover his historical record.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Image: later artistic representation, not a contemporary portrait ↗Photo: Photo Dharma from Sadao, Thailand. CC BY 2.0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
