Edicts of Ashoka, Mauryan Control YouTube Lecture Handouts

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Ashoka

  • Kalinga was only kingdom, which was not part of Mauryan control.
  • Kalinga was powerful an Ashoka attacked it in 261 BCE
  • Death and destruction filled sorrow and remorse
  • Kalinga had infantry of 60,000 men, 10,000 horsemen and 600 elephants
  • Around 1 lakh people were killed and 1.5 lakh soldiers were taken as prisoners
  • Digvijaya policy (conquest of territories) was replaced by Dhamma Vijaya policy (conquest of dharma)
  • People should live in peace and harmony, follow ahmisa, show love, obey elders and be truthful
  • Ashoka was 1st monarch to renounce war after victory of Kalinga – championed peace, non-violence, brotherhood and tolerance
  • Mahamattas were appointed to carry out administrative work
  • Ordered construction of monasteries, sent Buddhist scholars to distant lands to spread Buddhism
  • Sent Mahendra and daughter Sangh mitra to Srilanka
  • Special officers dhammamahamattas were appointed to spread principles of Dhamma
Illustration: Ashoka
  • Organized 3rd Buddhist council at Patliputra
  • Inscriptions in Prakrit language and Brahmi Script
  • In NW they were written in Greek, Kharoshthi, and Aramaic
  • Editcs were source of information; were royal commands and proclamations inscribed on rocks

Manishika