Ashoka the Great - Violent or Non-Violent?
#ashokathegreat #Buddhism #India
Ashoka the great was one of the greatest Indian emperor. But he was different from the other emperors in one way. His speciality was non violence. His association with non violence started after the war of Kalinga. 1/6
He defeated Kalinga, but while any other emperor would celebrate the victory, Ashoka felt sad looking at the people he had killed. So he decided to become a Buddhist. Buddhists preached non-violence. Exactly what Ashoka wanted to practice in his life after Kalinga war. 2/6
So, Ashoka got a teacher named Upagupta to teach him. Upagupta took Ashoka all around India to teach him Buddhism. He erected pillars wherever Upagupta took him. One of the pillars with four lions and the inscription of Satyameva Jayate became the national emblem of India. 3/6
After a lot more of learning Ashoka joined the Sangha which was the Buddhist order, a rare opportunity for a Buddhist. 4/6
However, some of the documents say that Ashoka got married to a Buddhist lady and for her he turned Buddhist. It seems he waged wars even after becoming Buddhist. 5/6
Some say that Kalinga war happened much after he became a Buddhist. Ashoka might still have been violent, though he spoke non-violence. Probably, he did not practice what he preached. This I think is a twist in the tale because normally we look at history only from one side. 6/6
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