Ashoka and his

Law of Piety
Presented by : Sonal Shambhavi
 Ashoka (273 BC – 223 BC)
• Ashoka was the most famous Mauryan King and one of the greatest
rulers ever.
• British Historian HG Wells had this to say about Ashoka :
• “Amidst tens of thousands of names of monarchs that crowd the
columns of history….. The name of Ashoka shines, and shines almost
alone, like a star”
• His numerous rock and pillar edicts spread over the large part of India,
give us a lot of information about this great ruler.
KING ASHOKA
‫ ٭‬As a young king prince, Ashoka
was a brilliant and ruthless
commander.
‫٭‬Ashoka governed his kingdom very
well.
‫ ٭‬For about 12 years he did not try to
expand his kingdom.
‫٭‬In 261 BC he decided to extend the
empire by conquering Kalinga.
‫ ٭‬But his conquest of Kalinga proved
to be the turning point of his life.
KALINGA WAR (261 BC)
 KALINGA WAR
• When Ashoka Become King, Kalinga was the only kingdom which was
not under the Mauryan control.
• The conquest of Kalinga was important as it controlled the land sea routes
of south India and south east Asia. The Conquest of Kalinga would have
added to the prosperity of Mauryan Empire.
• In 261 BC, Ashoka attacked Kalinga and conquered it after a fierce battle.
• The war with Kalinga was turning point in the life of Ashoka. The death,
destruction and suffering that he saw in the war made him very sad. He
realised the futility of fighting a war and decided not to fight any more
wars. He devoted the rest of his life to serve his people.
 DHAMMA
• ‘’Dhamma’’, is a prakrit equivalent of the Sanskrit word Dharma translated as religion in modern
times. However, in terms of Ashoka’s edicts it has a wider sense.

• ‘Dhamma’, in a sense, was an ethical code to inculcate a social responsibility among the people, it
was different from various religions popular at that time. The ultimate goal of Dhamma was to create
a harmonious environment where all people, irrespective of their caste and religion, lived in peace and
harmony with each other so as to ensure the security and stability of the empire.

• For Ashoka, Dhamma was a way of life and was based on a high degree of social ethics and civic
responsibility. Dhamma was meant to reach every member of the society for which Ashoka formed a
different cadre of officers known as the ‘Dhamma-Mahamattas’.
• Ashoka believed that if people ordered their lives according to the principles of Dhamma then, their
goal to attain happiness would be fulfilled.
Ashoka’s Dhamma
Ashoka’s Dhamma was deeply
inspired by Buddhism.
It did not involve the worship of
god.
Ashoka wanted people to
understand Dharma, follow it in
their daily lives and benefit from it,
Though this philosophy, Ashoka
tried to promote the idea of morality
of the states and of the individual.
Dhamma : Social Condition
Some principles put forth in Dhamma Some of the principles advocated in
for state were Dhamma for individual were
• To promote peace and harmony in the • To live together in peace and
state. harmony.
• To ensure fast and effective justice to • To speak the truth.
people. • To respect all religions.
• To set up nurseries to grow medicinal • To follow the path of ahimsa or non -
herbs for the use of common people. violence towards humans and
• To establish wildlife sanctuaries for animals.
the preservation of animals and plants. • To be kind to the poor, including
servants and slaves.
Socio-political effects
• Ashoka practiced what he was preached. He visited the holy place like
Lumbini, Bodh Gaya and Sarnath. During these tours he gave gifts to
Brahmins and the Buddhist monks.
• Principles of Dhamma were engraved on rocks and pillars.
• Ashoka ordered officials to teach people about Dhamma.
• His officer constructed well and planted trees for the comforts of the
travellers.
• Ashoka appointed officials called dhamma mahamantras to spread
dhamma. These officers went from place to place and spread the
message of Dhamma and the people.
EDICTS OF ASHOKA
• Major Rock Edict I: declares prohibition of animal sacrifice and holiday of festive gatherings.

• Major Rock Edict II: Relates to certain measures of society welfare like medical treatment of men and
animals, construction of roads, tree planting, etc.

• Major Rock Edict III: Says that liberality towards Brahamanas is a virtue, respect to mother and father etc.
are all good qualities.

• Major Rock Edict IV: Says that due to Dhamma the lack of morality and disrespect towards Brahamanas,
violence and evils to friends and relatives have been checked. Killing of animals also stopped to a large
extent.

• Major Rock Edict V: Dhamma Mahamattas were appointed to look after these things and to spread the
message of Dhamma.
EDICTS OF ASHOKA
• Major Rock Edict VI: Dhamma Mahattas were told that they could bring their reports to the king at any
time. This Elect deals with speedy administration and transaction of smooth business.

• Major Rock Edict VII: is a plea for toleration amongst all the sects. This plea is to maintain unity.

• Major Rock Edict VIII: States that Dharmayatras would be undertaken by the emperor.

• Major Rock Edict IX: Attacks ceremonies performed after birth, illness and marriages. Asoka instead lays
stress on practice of Dhamma.

• Major Rock Edict X: Denounces fame and glory and expresses the merits of Dhamma.

• Major Rock Edict XI: Show respect to elders, abstaining from killing animals and liberality towards friends.

• Major Rock Edict XI: Says about toleration among sects, and his plea for harmony.
CONCLUSION
• Ashoka's response to warfare and the tragedy of Kalinga was the inspiration for the formulation of
the concept of dhamma. Dhamma derives from the concept, originally set down by Hinduism,
of dharma (duty) which is one's responsibility or purpose in life but, more directly, from Buddha's
use of dharma as cosmic law and that which should be heeded. Ashoka's dhamma includes this
understanding but expands it to mean general goodwill and beneficence to all as “right behavior”
which promotes peace and understanding. Key notes that the concept is equated with “mercy,
charity, truthfulness, and purity”. It is also understood to mean “good conduct” or “decent
behavior”.
• Ashoka was quite successful in his religious policy and policy of Dhamma as he was able to
maintain peace and order throughout his reign and no solid evidence of communal discord has been
found during his reign. Conclusively, it can be deduced that he was a liberal and tolerant king; he
respected all religions.