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Was Ashoka really great?
According to mainstream history books, Ashoka was initially a ruthless ruler but after battle of kalinga, he became a proponent of peace.
He was deeply disturbed with the thousands bodies lying distorted in the battlefield.
According to mainstream history books, Ashoka was initially a ruthless ruler but after battle of kalinga, he became a proponent of peace.
He was deeply disturbed with the thousands bodies lying distorted in the battlefield.
He couldn't bear the pain of the soldiers and their loved ones.
He took refuge to Buddhism to quench his thirst for peace.
He accepted the ahimsa and tolerance as a trait and propagated Dhamma rest of his life.
He took refuge to Buddhism to quench his thirst for peace.
He accepted the ahimsa and tolerance as a trait and propagated Dhamma rest of his life.
He was called as Ashoka "the great" by historians. And promoted as one of the most powerful emperor of ancient India.
Is this all true?
Do the primary sources tell same?
Are they verified?
Sanjeev Sanyal tries to answer the same in his book ocean of churn.
Is this all true?
Do the primary sources tell same?
Are they verified?
Sanjeev Sanyal tries to answer the same in his book ocean of churn.
He has taken help of inscriptions and accounts of contemporary people instead of books of modern historians to reach the conclusion.
It is evident from the inscriptions that Ashoka had accepted Buddhism way before the battle of kalinga.
It is evident from the inscriptions that Ashoka had accepted Buddhism way before the battle of kalinga.
Even Buddhist books don't mention kalinga war to relate with Ashoka.
The reasons were not spiritual but political.
The royal family of Chandragupta was under influence of Jains.
Bindusar was influenced by Ajeevakas.
The reasons were not spiritual but political.
The royal family of Chandragupta was under influence of Jains.
Bindusar was influenced by Ajeevakas.
Brahmins were part of administration team.
But Buddhist were gaining influence in society.
After the death of bindusar, Jains, Brahmin or Ajeevakas were not in support of Ashoka.
He took help of Buddhist monks to get to power.
But Buddhist were gaining influence in society.
After the death of bindusar, Jains, Brahmin or Ajeevakas were not in support of Ashoka.
He took help of Buddhist monks to get to power.
He promised to help them in increasing influence of Buddhism in return.
He gave them state protection and k!lled all his brothers.
There are few inscriptions in which Ashoka regrets the battle of kalinga.
He gave them state protection and k!lled all his brothers.
There are few inscriptions in which Ashoka regrets the battle of kalinga.
But these are near Magadh, hundreds of km far from Odisha.
In kalinga, there is no inscription stating the same.
Though there are many inscriptions of Ashoka in kalinga too.
It seems that he never returned kalinga to the local people even after the war.
In kalinga, there is no inscription stating the same.
Though there are many inscriptions of Ashoka in kalinga too.
It seems that he never returned kalinga to the local people even after the war.
The inscriptions of Magadh seem a disguise to improve the perception of citizens about him.
Ashoka never ended death sentence.
He maintained a huge army till end of his life.
Ashoka never ended death sentence.
He maintained a huge army till end of his life.
He has put out intimidating inscriptions for neighboring states as well as other religious communities.
Buddhist texts say that he had ordered killing of thousands of Ajeevakas in Bengal.
Buddhist texts say that he had ordered killing of thousands of Ajeevakas in Bengal.
He beheaded a Jain just because later had painted Buddha in namaskar position in front of Mahaveer.
Ashoka had even put out prize on Jain head counts.
Thousands of Jains were k!lled to get gold coins from Ashoka.
Ashoka had even put out prize on Jain head counts.
Thousands of Jains were k!lled to get gold coins from Ashoka.
From the study we come to know that neither Ashoka became peace loving or tolerant after kalinga war. Nor, India declined due to Ashoka accepting Buddhism and resorting to peace.
Reference: the ocean of churn by Sanjeev Sanyal.
Reference: the ocean of churn by Sanjeev Sanyal.
Ashoka the curse of India https://twitter.com/Dharma_Yoddhaa/status/1299217824313819136?s=09
