ASHOKA’S POLICY OF
DHAMMA
Historical Background
Introduction
• Ashoka the son of Bindusara succeeded to the Mauryan throne
in 269 C.E
• Until about a100 years ago he was merely one of the many
king mentioned in the Mauryan dynastict list
• In1837 James Princep deciphered an inscription in Brahmi
script of a king name Devanampiya Piyadasi(Beloved of God)
• Later many such inscriptions were discovered
• In 1915, another version of the edicts was discovered in which
the king called himself Devanampiya Ashoka
• That established the fact that that both the name were of the
same king, Ashoka
• Ashoka was regarded as one of the greatest king of the ancient
world
• His greatness lays not in the vastness of his empire but primarily
in his character and the principles and ideals for which he strove
• His only conquest was that of Kalinga(Odisha) which he
undertook 8 years after his accession
• Though victorious, the scene of the battle field haunted him
• His remorse make him to find solace in Buddhism
• He got converted to Buddhism and contributed greatly in its
spread in India and aboard
• This ultimately turned him to Dhamma
• Dhamma is the Prakrit form of the Sanskrit word
Dharma
• It has been variously translated as piety, moral life,
righteousness
• But it must be clearly understood that it was not any
particular religious faith or practices
• To understand its various aspects and reason for
formulation it is necessary to sketch its historical
background
Socio-Economic background
• Mauryas period witnessed a change in the economic
structure
• Use of iron, resulting in surplus production which in
turn led to development of trade
• Changeover took place from a simple rural economy
to a pattern of economy in which towns and cities
played an important part
• The emergence of urban culture by its very logic
demanded a more flexible social organisation
• The commercial class had come to the forefront
• Incorporation of tribes and people from the
outlaying areas into the social fabric resulted into
some problem
• Rigidity of the four fold varna division
• The commercial class were denied a higher status
• The rigidity sharpened the division in the society
• It was this situation which Ashoka inherited when
he ascended the throne
• Therefore in an effort to solve some of these
problem that a complex society faced he introduced
the policy of Dhamma
Religious Background
• Brahmanical hold over society came under increasing
attack
• The privileges of the priests, rigidity of caste and
elaborate rituals were being questioned
• Existence of other religious sects, such as Buddhism,
Jainism and Ajivikas
• Brahmanism still continued to have a strong hold
• As a result hostility prevail
• To bring about harmony and mutual trust it is necessary to
introduce policy that will be acceptable to all
Political Background
• State had grown very elaborate and complex
• Political supremacy of one region(Magadha) over a vast
territory
• Comprised of many previous kingdoms and areas where no
organised states had existed before
• Existence within this vast territory, various geographical
regions, multiple culture and diverse faiths, beliefs and
practices
• Monopoly of force by a ruling class of which the king was the
supreme head
• Existence of an administrative apparatus
• Appropriation of a very substantial quantity of surplus from
agriculture, commerce and other sources
Conclusion
• The complexity of the state system having diverse economy,
religion and social structure required an imaginative policy
with minimal use of force
• It could not be controlled by an army alone
• A feasible policy is needed which could reach to all section of
the society
• That policy of Dhamma is such an endeavour
