Question 1

Who was Ashoka and why is he important in Indian history?

Accepted Answer

Ashoka was the third emperor of the Maurya dynasty, ruling over nearly the entire Indian subcontinent in the 3rd century BC. What's important to remember is that he is one of the few rulers of antiquity to have publicly expressed remorse after a war of conquest. Devastated by the carnage of the Kalinga War (around 261 BC), he converted to Buddhism and put in place a policy founded on non-violence (ahimsa), religious tolerance and the well-being of his subjects, known as Dharma. Less a conqueror than a moral reformer, he left a lasting mark by spreading Buddhism far beyond India.

Question 2

What is Ashoka's modern legacy?

Accepted Answer

Ashoka's legacy is everywhere in India today. The Lion Capital of Sarnath, which crowned one of his pillars, became the national emblem of India in 1950, and the Wheel of Dharma (Dharmachakra) that appears on it adorns the Indian flag. What's striking here is that a 3rd-century BC emperor still provides the symbols of the modern Republic of India. His edicts carved on rock and pillar are among the oldest deciphered written texts of India, and they continue to be studied as a model of ethical government.

Question 3

What do Ashoka's edicts say about the Kalinga War?

Accepted Answer

The Thirteenth Major Rock Edict contains the official account of the Kalinga War: in it Ashoka declares that “one hundred and fifty thousand people were deported, one hundred thousand were killed and many times that number perished,” and that immediately after the annexation he felt “deep remorse.” To understand this, one must remember that this is one of the rare cases where a victorious emperor publicly expresses his remorse in an official inscription. What sets Ashoka apart from other conquerors is that he does not glorify his victory but draws a moral lesson from it, announcing his conversion to Buddhism and the adoption of non-violence as a principle of government.

Question 4

How did Ashoka spread Buddhism internationally?

Accepted Answer

Ashoka sent Buddhist missions to several regions, notably Sri Lanka, Central Asia and toward the Hellenistic kingdoms (such as Ptolemaic Egypt or Macedonia). According to tradition, his own son Mahinda and his daughter Sanghamitta are said to have introduced Buddhism to Sri Lanka. What's important to remember is that Ashoka transformed a regional Indian religion into a great universal religion, long before the expansion of Christianity or Islam. He also had thousands of stupas and monasteries built to house the relics of the Buddha, creating a network of pilgrimage sites.

Question 5

Where can you see Ashoka's pillars today?

Accepted Answer

Several of Ashoka's pillars still survive in India and Nepal. The most famous is the pillar of Sarnath, near Varanasi, topped by the lion capital. Others are found at Allahabad, Delhi (the Firoz Shah Kotla pillar), Lauriya Nandangarh and Rampurva. At Lumbini (Nepal), a pillar marks the birthplace of the Buddha. What's striking here is that these monolithic columns of polished sandstone, 12 to 15 metres high, have withstood more than 2,000 years of history. They bear inscriptions in Brahmi, Greek and Aramaic, evidence of the cultural diversity of the Mauryan empire.

Question 6

What was the policy of Dharma established by Ashoka?

Accepted Answer

The policy of Dharma is a programme of government founded on moral principles: non-violence (ahimsa), religious tolerance, compassion, generosity and truthfulness. Ashoka created special officials, the mahamatras of Dharma, charged with overseeing the well-being of the people and promoting these values. He also had wells dug, medicinal trees planted and hospitals for both humans and animals built along the roads. What's important to remember is that this is one of the earliest examples in history of a state placing the moral and material well-being of its subjects at the heart of its action, long before modern conceptions of the welfare state.

Question 7

How was daily life organised at Ashoka's court?

Accepted Answer

According to his edicts and Greek accounts, Ashoka began his day early, receiving the reports of his spies and officials. He aimed to be available at any hour for affairs of state. The afternoon was devoted to the administration of the empire: audiences, judicial decisions and the supervision of the mahamatras. In the evening he meditated or conversed with Buddhist monks. After his conversion, the consumption of meat at court was greatly reduced. The palace of Pataliputra, described by Greek ambassadors as a marvel of wood and stone, was surrounded by gardens and pools. What sets his court apart from other sovereigns is the importance given to moral reflection rather than to traditional entertainments.

Question 8

What are the symbolic objects associated with Ashoka?

Accepted Answer

Several objects are emblematic of Ashoka. The pillar of Ashoka is a monolithic column of polished sandstone, topped by a carved capital (lions, bulls, horses or elephants), which bore his edicts. The Lion Capital of Sarnath became the emblem of India. The Wheel of Dharma (Dharmachakra), which appears on this capital, symbolises the Buddhist law set in motion. The edicts carved on rock are moral inscriptions cut into stone. Finally, the stupa (such as the one at Sanchi) is a hemispherical monument housing relics of the Buddha, whose massive construction is attributed to Ashoka. What's important to remember is that these objects closely blend art, power and spirituality.

Question 9

What historical events marked Ashoka's reign?

Accepted Answer

Ashoka's reign is set within a broader context. His grandfather Chandragupta Maurya had founded the empire around 322 BC by overthrowing the Nanda dynasty. Ashoka came to the throne around 268 BC after a struggle for succession. The Kalinga War (around 261 BC) was the turning point of his reign. Around 250 BC, according to tradition, he sponsored the Third Buddhist Council at Pataliputra and sent missions abroad. He erected his pillars around 243 BC. At his death around 231 BC, the Mauryan Empire began its decline, finally collapsing around 185 BC. What is often forgotten is that Ashoka's empire was contemporary with the Hellenistic kingdoms born of Alexander's conquests, with which he maintained diplomatic relations.

Question 10

What is the key vocabulary for understanding Ashoka?

Accepted Answer

Several terms are essential. Dharma (or Dhamma) refers to the moral law that Ashoka promoted. Ahimsa is the principle of non-violence. Maurya is the name of his dynasty. An edict is a proclamation carved on stone. A stupa is a Buddhist monument housing relics. The chakra (wheel) symbolises the Buddhist law. The sangha is the community of monks. A mahamatra is a senior official charged with welfare. The edicts were written in Prakrit (the popular languages) and in Brahmi (an ancient script). Ashoka had himself called Beloved of the Gods (Devanampiya). Finally, Kalinga is the kingdom whose bloody conquest changed his life. What's important to remember is that this vocabulary allows one to grasp both the political and religious context of his reign.

Ashoka(303 av. J.-C. — 231 av. J.-C.)

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