imagesCARQDBYAAshoka Maurya (304–232 BCE), also known as Ashoka the Great, is considered to be one of the greatest rulers in history, but his benign governance began with violence and was only transformed to a peaceful, Buddhism view after a particularly gruesome battle, the Kalinga War, in 260 BCE.

Ashoka was, by accounts, an audacious, cruel young man; his older brothers were understandably afraid of him, and persuaded their father to send Ashoka to a distant land, Taxshila, as a general in charge of quelling a rebellion. To the dismay of his siblings, Ashoka proved to be a capable leader and succeeded beyond expectations.  In a second successful encounter, Ashoka was wounded, and tended, in secret, by Buddhist monks. It was during his convalescence that Ashoka first became aware of the basic tenets of Buddhism. He was drawn to the Buddhist faith, but retained his violent nature.  

After the death of his father (Bindusara, 275 BCE), Ashoka waged war with his brothers, and eventually became the third ruler of the Mauryan Empire, which, under Ashoka’s rule, expanded to encompass the majority of the Indian sub-continent within the present-day borders of Iran, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Burma. It was only Sri Lanka, the southern tip of India, and the kingdom of Kalinga along the northeast coast of India, that continued to elude his rule.

Although Kalinga was the birthplace of his wife, and the king of Kalinga had protected him during his rise to the throne, Emperor Ashoka assembled a great army and led an assault against the kingdom in an epic, bloody battle. Ashoka’s army prevailed, but the carnage he witnessed transformed him and he devoted himself to Buddhism, and the practice of non-violence (ahinsa).

As a ruler, Ashoka published edicts, proclamations that expounded his newfound ambitions for the empire he had created. The Edicts of King Ashoka were engraved on stone pillars, which were not only placed in the cultural center of his kingdom, but erected at the boundaries of the Mauryan Empire.

He promised peace to the realms that surrounded the Empire; he would use influence and wisdom, rather than violence, to persuade his neighbours. 

He vowed to tend to his subjects like a loving father, referring to the people as his children. He met with people personally whenever possible, travelled throughout his empire often to insure face-to-face communication, and insisted that he be consulted immediately if a matter of importance arose, even if he was sleeping or eating. He provided universal medical care for people and animals, and ensured that plentiful fruit trees were planted for food and shade.  

In order to protect wild species he banned live sacrifices, sport hunting, and the burning of forests and agricultural wastelands. He also encouraged a vegetarian diet and established a protected species list.

He became closely involved with legal issues; and, as a merciful leader, he prohibited torture and the death penalty, and recommended pardons for both the elderly, and petty criminals who had family to support.

Ashoka cultivated tolerance and respect in society; he was a Buddhist, but had reverence for all religions, and he openly encouraged respect for all holy peoples, as well as toward parents, teachers, relatives, friends and servants.

Ashoka’s wise, compassionate rule lasted until his death in 232 BCE. After his death, the Mauryan Empire persisted for another fifty years, but slowly declined. His spiritually enhanced years of rule were well documented in ancient Vedic literature, and he is still acknowledged as one of the finest rulers of human history; a paragon that should inspire heads of state around the world.

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For more information:

http://www.cs.colostate.edu/~malaiya/ashoka.html

http://www.porchlight.ca/~blackdog/ashoka.htm

http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/misc/57jmf2.htm

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