File:Ashoka's_visit_to_the_Ramagrama_stupa_Sanchi_Stupa_1_Southern_gateway.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

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Ashoka

Also known as Ashok, Ashoka the Great, Ashoka Maurya, Samrat Ashok, Chakravarty Samrat Ashok, Asoka, Mauryan Ashoka, Ashoka Samrat

Ashoka, also known as Asoka or Aśoka ( ; , ; – 232 BCE), most commonly known as Ashoka the Great, was Emperor of Magadha from until his death, and the third ruler from the Mauryan dynasty. His empire covered a large part of the Indian subcontinent, stretching from present-day Afghanistan in the west to present-day Bangladesh in the east, with its capital at Pataliputra. A patron of Buddhism, he is credited with an important role in the spread of Buddhism across ancient Asia.

AI overview

Ashoka the Great was an ancient Indian emperor of the Mauryan dynasty who ruled a vast empire covering much of the Indian subcontinent from Afghanistan to Bangladesh until his death around 232 BCE. He is historically significant as a major patron of Buddhism who played a crucial role in spreading the religion throughout ancient Asia.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Key facts

Royalty.name: Ashoka the Great
Royalty.title: Mahārājādhirāja ChakravartinDevanampriya Priyadarsin Magadharaje
Royalty.image: Ashoka's visit to the Ramagrama stupa Sanchi Stupa 1 Southern gateway.jpg
Royalty.image_size: 285px
Royalty.caption: A relief from Sanchi, showing Ashoka on his chariot, visiting the Ramagrama
Royalty.succession: 3rd Mauryan Emperor
Royalty.reign: 232 BCE
Royalty.predecessor: Bindusara
Royalty.successor: Dasharatha
Royalty.death_date: 232 BCE (aged 72)
Royalty.father: Bindusara
Royalty.mother: Subhadrangi or Dharma
Royalty.dynasty: Maurya
Royalty.religion: Supported Buddhism specifically, but he claimed he placed Buddhism side by side with Brahmanism, Jainism, and the Ajivikas in his edicts and stressed that his dhamma was not the doctrine of one religion but was universal but also other religions, propagated dharma ("righteousness")
Royalty.succession1: Crown Prince of Magadha
Royalty.predecessor1: Susima
Royalty.successor1: Kunala
Royalty.succession2: Viceroy of Avantirastra

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Instance of: human
Gender: male
Citizenship: Maurya empire
Place of birth: Patna
Place of death: Patna
Spouse: Asandhimitra
Child: Charumati
Father: Bindusara
Mother: Subhadrangi
Sibling: Vitashoka
Occupation: Buddhist monk
Languages spoken: Prakrit
Native language: Sanskrit
Religion: Buddhism
Family: Maurya dynasty
Student of: Upagupta
Head of state: Maurya empire
Image: Indian relief from Amaravati, Guntur. Preserved in Guimet Museum.jpg

Show 9 more facts

Commons category: Ashoka
date of birth: 0304-01-01
date of death: 0232-01-01
described by source: Pauly–Wissowa
topic's main category: Category:Ashoka
influenced by: The Buddha
on focus list of Wikimedia project: Wikipedia:Vital articles/Level/4
name in native language: असोक
relative: Chandragupta Maurya

Sources (5)

via Wikidata · CC0

~90 min read

Encyclopedic overview

56 sections

Contents

Sources of information
Inscriptions
Buddhist legends
Other sources
Alternative interpretation of the epigraphic evidence
Names and titles
Date
Ancestry
As a prince
Rebellion at Taxila
Viceroy of Ujjain
Ascension to the throne
Date of ascension
Reign before Buddhist influence
Kalinga war and conversion to Buddhism
Kalinga war
First contact with Buddhism
Reign after Buddhist influence
Construction of stupas and temples
Propagation of Dharma
Third Buddhist Council
Buddhist missions
Violence after conversion
Family
Consorts
Sons
Daughters
Brothers
Imperial extent
Religion and philosophy
Relationship with Buddhism
Other religions
Dharma
Animal welfare
Foreign relations
Hellenistic world
Legends about past lives
Last years
Tissarakkha as the empress
Death
Archaeological remains
Architecture
Symbols
Inscriptions and rock-edicts
Coinage
Modern scholarship
Rediscovery
Perceptions and historiography
Impact of pacifism
In art, film and literature
See also
Notes
References
Works cited
Further reading
External links

The Edicts of Ashoka state that during his eighth regnal year (), he conquered Kalinga after a brutal war. Ashoka subsequently devoted himself to the propagation of "dhamma" or righteous conduct, the major theme of the edicts. Ashoka's edicts suggest that a few years after the Kalinga War, he was gradually drawn towards Buddhism. The Buddhist legends credit Ashoka with establishing a large number of stupas, patronising the Third Buddhist council, supporting Buddhist missionaries, and making generous donations to the sangha.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Ashoka” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.