The early life of this great emperor is stained with the blood of his brothers.Ashoka was born in the great Maurya dynasty founded by Chandragupta Maurya. His father was Bindusara who was the son of Chandragupta Maurya. Ashoka started his career as a young general but he rose in ranks quickly to become a ruthless warrior and able statesman. His activities and quick rise to power allerted his half brother Sushima who became wary of Ashoka's intentions towards the Maurya throne and he was sent on exile to Kalinga.He returned to Pataliputra after two years and was again sent to Ujjain to subdue a rebellion. There she met Devi, daughter of a Buddhist merchant and married her. Meanwhile Bindusara died and Sushima in attempting to kill Ashoka's new born child ended up killing Ashoka's wife Devi. As the legend goes, Ashoka was so infuriated by this incident that he attacked the Maurya capital Pataliputra and beheaded all his half brothers including Sushima and ascended the Mauya throne. This also marked the start of eight year long military campaigns which extended the Maurya empire across the entire subcontinent. Nearly the whole of present day India barring just the southernmost fringes, the whole of modern day Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh were brought under the Maurya fold. So ruthless were his activities that he came to be known as "Chand Ashok" which in Sanskrit means "the Cruel Ashoka".
The Kalinga War and a changed Ashoka
The Kalinga War not only changed the personality of Ashoka but also changed the history of mankind. Forever.peace was now a religion.After completing his conquests of virtually the whole of the sub continent, Ashoka turned his attention towards the kingdom of Kalinga (present day Orissa), a kingdom which had never before been defeated on the battlefield.
The people of Kalinga put all their efforts in checking the rampaging Mauryan army but they were no match to the war-crazy Ashoka and his military. From the rock edicts of Ashoka, it has been learnt that 10,000 people from Kalinga died in the battle and in the ensuing mass carnage and an equal number of Ashoka's men died as well. Many more were taken captive and deported.
The whole of Kalinga was at Ashoka's feet. Plundered. Ransacked.The battle site of Kalinga on the River Dhauli But the huge calamity of human lives had a huge effect on Ashoka. He was so moved that he left the path of violence forever and embraced the religion of peace.
He dedicated his entire life to the spread of Buddhism.
in his empire and in other parts of Asia and to the welfare of his subjects. Such a thing would never ever happen again. No other monarch repented his victory. No one other than Ashoka the Great.
with metta
Anu..
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