Early career and different achievements of Asoka
Abstract
Asoka was the greatest emperor in Mauriyan dynesty. He was a great patronage of Buddhism and art and architecture. This paper tries to
highlight about the early life and career of the great Mauryan emperor Asoka. There was lot of great emperor in Indian history, who wrote their
name in golden letter in history and Asoka also one of among these rulers. Some different prominent writer had analysis about the Asoka’s life
and career. This paper tries to analyses how he began his career and got achievements during his region. This paper also tries to highlight Asoka’s
Dhamma and his patronage of art and architecture during his region.
Keywords:Career,Buddha Dhamma,Art and Architecture,Inscription
Introduction
Asoka was one of the greatest kings of India. He was the son of Bindusara and grandson of Chandragupta Maurya.He was the third emperor of
Mauryan dynasty. He has occupied a prominent place in the history of India. He is also known as Asoka the great. He was not a great conqueror
but also efficient administrator.Asoka inherited not only a vast empire but also a new system of administration organized by Chanakyafrom his
forefather.After the war of Kalinga he introduced a new theory of kingship in order to change system of administration on the principle of social
welfare.
Review of literature-
To proceed with the analyses on this topic several books have been reviewed as –
“Asoka” by Radha Kumud Mookarji analysis the early career of Asoka and his different achievements, religious reforms and his contribution
towards the Maurya art and architecture in a beautiful and depth way.
“Emperor Asoka” by Vincent A Smith discussed the early career, administrative reforms aand his contribution towards Buddhism in a lucid
manner.
“Bimbisara to Asoka” by Sudhakar Chattopadhaya highlighted the different aspects of AAsoka and achievements of Asoka in lucid and beautiful
manner.
“Ancient India” written by R. C. Majumdar analyses the rise and downfall of Maurya dynasty.
Early life and career of Asoka
In 304 BC, the second emperor of the Maurya Dynasty, Bindusara, welcomed a son into the world.The boy's mother Dharma was only a
commoner, and he had several older hhalf-brothers.This baby was named Asoka Bindusara Maurya.Asoka grew up to be a bold, troublesome and
cruel young man.He was extremely fond of hunting; according to Vedic legend,he even killed a lion using only a wooden stick.
Ashokan Dhamma
Asoka was one of the greatest kings of the Mauryan dynasty. Asoka ascended the throne in 273 B.C and proved himself a mighty a conqueror. In
the history of ancient India, the region of Asoka is marked with the aggressive imperialism as well as his own policy of religion. The personal
religion of Asoka and the religious policy he followed, provide a glimpse into the religious trends of the age.
The word "Dharma" is the Prakit version of the Sanskrit word "Dharma" and Asoka’s Dharma is philosophical entity that highlighted on the high
ideals and spiritual enlightenment as a key to successful life. When Pillar Edict II was translated, it described the "middle path", the way to
enlightenment through Dharma that Buddha taught in his first sermon. Asoka aspired for a harmonious enlightenment where everyone could co-
exist peacefully irrespective of his or her caste creed and religion.The word "Dharma" is the Prakit version of the Sanskrit word "Dharma" and
Asoka’s Dharma is a philosophical entity that highlighted on the high ideals and spiritual enlightenment as a key to successful life. When Pillar
Edict II was translated, it described the "middle path", the way to enlightenment through Dharma that Buddha taught in his first sermon .Asoka
aspired for a harmonious enlightenment where everyone could co-exist peacefully irrespective of his or her caste and religion.Some of his ideals
were to shun war and spread peace, stop animal sacrifices,respect elders, masters treating slaves like humans promoting vegetarianism, etc.These
ideals if followed correctly led one to a higher level of living and one could finally attain "nirvana ".As an able king, Asoka took up the initiative
and introduced welfare programs for the subjects, which was also one of the policies of his "Dhamma".Asoka appointed Dhamma Mahamattas
who were basically officers looking after the spread of these principles across Asoka’s empire. Asoka propagated the principles of Dhamma not
just in India but also in countries like Sri Lanka, Burma and other South East Asian nations.
Asoka’s inscription
The inscriptions provide sufficient reliable knowledge about the reign of Asoka. His Inscriptions are found on the rocks,and the pillars scattered
from the Himalayas to Mysore and Orissa to Kathiawar.The object of his inscriptions is religious and ethical. Broadly speaking these Inscription
can be divided into three categories.The categories can be mentioned as rock edict,pillar edicts,and cave Inscriptions.
Rock edicts:
The rock edicts may be further classified into several heads such as the minor rock edicts,fourteen rock edicts,Kalinga rock edicts and Bhabru
rock edict.
Minor rock edicts:
These rock edicts belong to 258 or 257 B.C. They are of two types. One type of the minor rock edict can be found in Shabhaz district of Bihar at
Sahasram in Bairat district of Rajasthan and also Rupnath in Jabalpur district. The minor rock edicts of the other type have been found at
Brahmagiri in Mysore and at Rameshwaram.
Fourteen rock edicts:
These have been found at the following places.Shabhazgarhi in Peshawar district,Masera in Hazara district,Kalsi in Dehradun, Girardi near
Junagarh,Sopara in Thane district,Junagarh in Ganjam district.These rock edicts belong to 257 or 256 B.C.
Pillar edicts :
The pillar edicts may be further classified into three categories. The name can be mentioned as seven pillar edicts, two commemorative pillar
inscriptions, and four minor pillar edicts.
Seven pillar edicts:
These have been found at six places. Two pillar edicts have been found at Delhi. The seven pillar edicts have been found at Meerut,Prayag,
Ambala disband also in Champaran etc.The pillar edicts tell the people of the Asoka towards the people and the propagation of Dharma as well.
Two commemorative pillar inscriptions:
These inscriptions have been found in the Terai of Nepal at Rummindai and Nigilava villages.These describe Asoka’s Dharmyatras and the holy
places of Buddhism. These inscriptions belong to 246 B.C.
Four minor pillar edicts:
Two of these minor pillar edicts have been found at Sanchi and the other two have been found at Prayag. These inscriptions were issued to
remove the differences of Buddhism.
Cave inscriptions:
The cave inscriptions are three in number and have been found in the Barabar hills. These describe Asoka policy of toleration and charity.These
inscriptions belong from 257 to 250 B.C.
Footnotes
(1)Sudhakar Chattopadhyaya : “Binbisara to Asoka” published by Roy and Chowdhury,1977,
hasting street. Calcutta 700001. India. pp 105-6,107-8,126-7.
(2)R.K. Mookerji : “Asoka” published by Rajkamal Publications ltd. Delhi 1955, pp 2-8
(3)Vincent A Smith: “Emperor Asoka” published by wisdom Publications,
kaziwara,sikandrabad- 203205, pp -10, 59-60, 6.
(4)R.C Majumdar : “Ancient India” published by Motilal Banarsidass Publication pvt.ltd.
1998, Bungalow road, Delhi, 110007.
(5)D.R. Bhandarkar :“Asoka” published by Asian Educational services,2005, Houz Khas
village, New delhi.110016.
References
(1) Chattopadhyaya, sudhakar : “Binbisara to Asoka” published by Roy and Chowdhury,1977,
hasting street. Calcutta 700001. India. pp 105-6,107-8,126-7.
(2) Mookerji, R.K : “Asoka” published by Rajkamal Publications ltd. Delhi 1955, pp 2-8
(3) Smith, vincent A : “Emperor Asoka” published by wisdom Publications,
kaziwara,sikandrabad- 203205, pp -10, 59-60, 6.
(4) Majumdar, R.C. : “Ancient India” published by Motilal Banarsidass Publication pvt.ltd.
1998, Bungalow road, Delhi, 110007.
(5) Bhandarkar,D.R : “Asoka” published by Asian Educational services,2005, Houz Khas
village, New delhi.110016.
(6) Goggle - https://owlcation.com/humanities/Ashok-A-Short-Biography-of-Ashoka-the-Great-
of-India.
(7) Google - https://www.thoughtco.com/ashoka-the-great-195472.
