Ashoka after the Kalinga War

Ashoka, the last vital emperor of the Mauryan dynasty, gained more respect and recognition in history for abandoning a life of wars and violence. In renouncing his throne and adopting the life of Buddhahood, Ashoka transformed in many ways. So let's have a look at his life after the transition and his efforts to establish peace and harmony.

Samrat Ashoka, the great ruler of the Mauryan dynasty; Image source- Medium

Ashoka was the grandson of Chandragupta and the son of the emperor Bindusara. His personal life is not well traced and hence there are few resources accessible on it. However, according to the text "Ashokavadana", Ashoka was never a crown prince and his ascension to the throne was debated. But he proved to be a very efficient ruler during his reign.

Before coming under Buddhist influence, he was an ambitious ruler who believed in expanding his empire by any means. According to his inscriptions, he ruled over practically the whole Indian subcontinent, with the exception of the southern sections. He expanded his empire from Afghanistan in the west to Bangladesh in the east. However, there are so many pillars raised by Ashoka, including the pillars Vaishali, Sanchi, Sarnath, etc., that sing about his glory after his conversion to Buddhism.

The Kalinga War fought between an independent kingdom on India's east coast, Kalinga, and the powerful Maurya Empire, led by Ashoka, brought about a change in him. The ambitious king set his eyes on this prospering region and decided to bring it under his empire. But the war ended up being one of the most brutal and plundering wars in Indian history.

Lakhs of dead men and women littered the landscape, turning it into a graveyard; nearly one lakh fifty thousand and people were dragged as captives, and thousands of innocent animals cried their way to their deaths. The blood of many brave warriors turned the river Daya red, and this marked the turning point in Ashoka's character.

The aftereffects of war drove Ashoka to such remorse and guilt that he threw down his weapon and resolved to win people through Dharma (Dhamma) rather than war. He may have won the Kalinga war, but he lost the war for humanity. Thus, he saw this as an opportunity to change his ways and walk the path of peace.

With this incident in mind, an archaeologist, Ramesh Prasad Mohapatra, states that there is no war in the history of India that has changed the conqueror's heart.

Following that, Ashoka took up Buddhism and began preaching its teachings across the country. He chose to verbally propagate Dhamma teachings and carved the lessons on stones and pillars, which may be seen today as tangible evidence of his contributions. According to these cravings, he also made a pilgrimage to the Bodhi temple, where he preached Dhamma and performed numerous humanitarian tasks. He founded many hospitals to assist the poor and funded the construction of the Buddha Kanakamuni stupa. He adhered to virtues like honesty, mercifulness, nonviolence, and harmony.

The brutal Kalinga war, Image source- Leverage Edu

He was earlier called “Kamashoka” for his sensual pursuits, and Ashokavadana depicts him as a terrible ruler who was a part of many evil deeds and was hence named "Chandashoka." It also describes some of his cruel acts, but Ashoka's inscriptions never focused on this side of him, instead emphasizing his dhamma policy. However, after the war and conversion, he came to be known as “Dhammashoka” for his righteous ethics.

He traveled to rural areas regularly to preach Dhamma and assist the poor in ending their suffering. Along with raising monasteries, stupas, and pillars, tree plantations along the roads were quite common. According to another book, Mahavamsa, Ashoka built nearly eighty four thousand monasteries and collected seven of Gautama Buddha's eight relics, which he kept in gold and silver boxes.

Ashoka swung his victory flags over Kalinga for eight years, and his transition remains an irony in which a war he loved transformed his entire life. This demonstrates that it is never too late to make a positive change. It also highlights the reality that no matter how much you achieve in life, the ultimate peace is found in the path of honesty and mercy.

One of the pillars of Ashoka, Image source- The Rahnuma Daily.