Father
Ashoka(304 – 232)
Ashoka the Great
The greatest Mauryan emperor, who spread Buddhism and the ideal of Dhamma.
What you need to know
- Grandson of Chandragupta Maurya
- Kalinga War prompted his conversion to Buddhism
- Spread Buddhism through missions across Asia
- His Lion Capital is India's national emblem
Relations
Events
Associated Places
Dynasties
Timelines
The Great Mauryan Emperor
p>Ashoka (r. c. 268–232 BCE) was the third emperor of the Maurya dynasty and is widely regarded as one of the greatest rulers in world history. Inheriting an already vast empire from his father Bindusara, he extended Mauryan control across almost the entire Indian subcontinent, from the Hindu Kush to the Tamil country.</p><p>The defining moment of his reign was the Kalinga War of about 262 BCE, whose enormous bloodshed, by his own testimony, filled him with profound remorse and led to his embrace of Buddhism.</p>
Ashoka's Enduring Legacy
p>After his conversion, Ashoka propagated a policy of <em>Dhamma</em>, promoting non-violence, tolerance, welfare and moral governance. He inscribed his edicts on rocks and polished sandstone pillars across the empire and dispatched Buddhist missionaries as far as Sri Lanka, Central Asia and the Hellenistic world.</p><p>His Lion Capital from Sarnath was adopted as the national emblem of the Republic of India, and the Ashoka Chakra adorns the Indian national flag, making him a living symbol of Indian civilization.</p>
Facts at a glance
- Born
- Died
- Father
- Bindusara
- Gender
- MALE
- Religion
- BUDDHISM
- Type
- RULER
Significance · GLOBAL
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