Tag: Mauryan

Introduction

One of the greatest kings in Indian history was Ashoka the Great. In Ashoka’s life, the Kalinga War marked a turning point. He was upset to witness so much carnage and ruin throughout that conflict. He was highly affected by Buddhist doctrine and abandoned all forms of violence. Furthermore, he advocated the “Dhamma” policy, which accepted the tenets of Buddhism, while keeping in mind non-violence and compassion. The Sanskrit term “Dharma,” which denotes religious and moral obligation, is the root of the word “dhamma.” For all living things to coexist happily on this planet, Ashoka intended to propagate good moral ideals among the populace through this policy.

The Dhamma Policy of Ashoka

After the Kalinga War, Ashoka became a Buddhist and began to follow and propagate Buddhist ideas. In addition, he developed a new “dhamma” policy that emphasised non-violence, compassion, and peace. 

• He never made a big deal out of any complicated sacrifices or rites in this. After that, he gave up on his plan to conquer more territory and subjugate other cultures.
• He decided to become “Dhamma Mahamatta,” a travelling preacher of the Dhamma, to spread its teachings throughout his empire. Even his son and daughter were dispatched to Sri Lanka to propagate the Dhamma. 
• Secularism, which did not focus on any single religion but rather respected all religions, was the foundation of his Dhamma. He never forced the Dhamma on his subjects; instead, they were persuaded and came to accept it.
• He set an example for others to follow by adhering to this policy himself in a very strict manner. On numerous rocks and structures, he carved his edicts in languages used by regular people. So that everyone living in his empire might read, comprehend, and apply the “Dhamma” to their daily life.

Dhamma of Ashoka’s Principles

The Buddha’s teachings served as an inspiration for Ashoka’s Dhamma. His Dhamma’s concepts were quite straightforward and easily understood by the populace. Ashoka was more interested in using persuasion than regulation and imposition to spread this policy. The guiding concepts of his strategy are as follows:

• Ashoka wished for his followers to adhere to the non-violence, or ahimsa concept toward all living things, including people and animals. To strengthen the Empire at the time, which was quite common, he abandoned the idea of war for territorial expansion. Additionally, he preached against harming or killing animals.
• Respect for parents and other adults: He counselled kids to always respect and obey their parents and other adults. Similarly, parents and elders are required to be compassionate and kind toward their young charges.
• He emphasised the need for us to exhibit generosity toward everyone by choosing the way of kindness, love, harmony, and respect. He recommended charitable giving to the poor and turn toward slaves, servants, and animals to achieve this. Respect should be shown for one another. We shouldn’t abuse our position and influence. Instead, we ought to think about how we may be kind to others.
• He proclaimed via his Dhamma that one should appreciate those who practise different religions. He did not advocate joining a specific religion or turning to a specific deity. Furthermore, he granted everyone in his kingdom the freedom to follow their principles and to live their lives as they saw fit, and he vowed that the government would never force a specific religion on its people. Additionally, he favoured peaceful coexistence among all races, religions, and creeds. His goal was to create harmonious relationships between many aspects of society to eventually unite the populace behind shared values and rule a tranquil, huge empire.

Summary

The Dhamma of Ashoka was mostly derived from Buddhist teachings. After the Kalinga conflict, he implemented this policy, which caused the loss of many lives and left him feeling guilty, and sorry for himself. He was able to keep his empire pleasant and harmonious by using the Dhamma. In a sense, he was able to eradicate socio-political instability in his empire by upholding the values of mutual kindness, respect for all religious beliefs, compliance with authority figures, and consideration for younger people. He also rejected superstitious practices and advocated for ahimsa. In essence, he created a secular and liberal empire with this approach, freeing him from the necessity to impose a particular faith on his subjects. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1.Why did Ashoka and Kalinga Fight?
Ans: Kalinga, now Odisha, was a powerful maritime nation. The power might open up commercial opportunities for the Mauryan Empire with nations in Southeast Asia. Ashoka, therefore, desired to incorporate that country within his empire.

2.Why was Ashoka referred to as “Ashoka the Great”?
Ans: One of the kings who became known as the greatest king in Indian history was Ashoka. This was a result of his distinct management style, which allowed him to oversee such a sizable empire while preventing any physical injury to anyone.

3.How does Ashoka’s Dhamma still have value in Modern Society?
Ans: Yes, Ashoka’s Dhamma principle—which advocated a moral way of life centred on showing respect for all living things—is still very much important in today’s culture. It also emphasised the need for tolerance, which is essential for surviving in a nation as varied and multi-religious as India.

Introduction

The third Mauryan emperor Ashoka, sometimes referred to as Ashoka the Great, reigned in ancient India from 268 to 232 BC. He was the second son of the Mauryan emperor Bindusar. Although he was not the heir of the Mauryan throne, he was more adored than his elder brother Sushima.  Ashoka was an ambitious ruler and a gallant warrior. Some folklores suggest that Ashoka conspired against all his siblings to reach the throne. However, he is not only known for his war abilities but for the realizations he had after the war of Kalinga that led him to accept the doctrines of Buddhism and spread peace around the world.

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Ashoka: The Great

Ashoka was born in the year 304 BC to Subhadrangi, daughter of a Brahmin. It is said that Ashoka spent his childhood away from the royal pleasures and in a village. However, he was trained with good morale and this made him popular among the crowd. He was loved by his people and received titles of honor from them. For several reasons, Ashoka was referred to as Ashoka the Great. Some of them are as follows:

• The largest empire in the Indian subcontinent was founded by Ashoka. 
• One of the largest armies was that of Ashoka, which included infantry, cavalry, and war elephants. 
• The greatest conquistador was Ashoka. He resolved never to use violence again after the Kalinga conflict and gave his life to Buddhism.
• He dispatched his son, daughter, and many missionaries to spread Buddhism over the continent. 
• He constructed countless viharas and stupas, the most notable of which is the enormous Sanchi Stupa, which UNESCO has listed as a World Heritage Site.

Ashoka: The Ruler

• Following his accession to the throne, Ashoka decided to expand his empire and carried out all the royal responsibilities outlined in Kautilya’s Arthashastra.
• This ongoing conflict lasted for eight years. Aside from these battles, he maintained good relations with other countries and maintained stability in all the regions that Chandragupta and Bindusar had previously controlled. 
• He gave himself the name “Devanampriya,” which means gods’ favourite.
• Kashmir and Kalinga, the only left-wing state in south India, were two targets Ashoka had long aimed to capture. His efforts were concentrated on Kalinga after he was successful in annexing Kashmir. The conflict significantly altered Ashoka’s life.

Ashoka’s War

The War of Kalinga was the largest and most well-known conflict during Ashoka’s rule. The Kalinga kingdom was a commercial state with easy access to the sea that was located in what is now the state of Odisha. In the year 260 BCE, Ashoka attacked Kalinga city. 

In India’s history, it was the bloodiest conflict ever. When Ashoka visited the battlefield to celebrate his victory after winning the war, he was horrified and deeply saddened by the scale of the carnage. At that very moment, he experienced a great conversion of heart and condemned war and all forms of violence after witnessing the devastation and feeling regret for the Kalinga. He swore he would never take up a weapon or use force of any kind. He subsequently adopted Buddhism as his religion, followed its path, and swore to disseminate the Buddha’s teachings.

Ashoka as a Devotee

Ashoka was dramatically altered by the Kalinga conflict. He converted to Buddhism and embraced the Dhamma, or Conquest by Dharma, philosophy. Ashoka erected several engraved rock and pillar edicts and thousands of stupas around India to publicise Buddha’s work and propagate his teachings. 

For people to adhere to the teachings and uphold the dharma, Ashoka’s rules and the Buddha’s teachings were etched on those pillars. One of the best-known dicta of dharma is the lion capital of the pillar at Sarnath, which eventually became the flag of India. Ashoka gave the order to erect 84,000 stupas throughout his territory, each housing the Buddha’s remains. Sanchi Stupa is among the most well-known stupas.

Ashoka’s Administration:

• The kingdom of Ashoka was split into provinces, which were further subdivided into villages by Visayas and Janpadas. 
• The provinces of his dominion were separated into five. 
• Magadh was the central Province, and each Province was independent, given a certain amount of autonomy.
• He adhered to the ideal of non-violence and had as his goal the welfare and security of his citizens. 
• Amatya and appointed officials, who all directly answered to the king, were trusted and knowledgeable authorities in charge of overseeing all administrative and judicial functions. 
• He had a competent and organised government.

Summary

One of the most amazing and legendary monarchs of ancient India was Ashoka. He gained much of his notoriety following the Battle of Kalinga when he decided to stop fighting. As the monarch who abstained from battle, he is well-known throughout history. Ashoka ruled over the whole Indian subcontinent and created the largest empire in historical India. After the Battle of Kalinga, he converted to Buddhism and became its most ardent supporter. To promote the teachings of Buddhism, he dispatched many missionaries and carved numerous stone edicts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1.What was Ashoka’s Dhamma?
Ans. Dhamma is best understood as instructions, and Ashoka’s Dhamma were guidelines for a more ethical social order. It was an order that needed to be obeyed for the good of society.

2.What were the messages given by Ashoka for the Betterment of Society?
Ans. The messages given by Ashoka for the betterment of society were:

• Respecting everyone’s cast. 
• Being gentle with the poor. 
• Doing welfare of citizens. 
• Respecting each religion.

3. Where is Kalinga located in Present Day?
Ans: Kalinga included a large part of present-day Odisha, north-easter regions of Andhra Pradesh, and large portions of Chhatisgarh.

Introduction 

Indian philosophy encompasses the countless, unending intellectual traditions that developed on the Indian subcontinent across various epochs. Its origins cannot be pinpointed to a specific time period, but rather date back to endless antiquity. Origin of philosophies takes place, from these three stages- Pre-logic, Logic, and Ultra-Logic.

• The pre-logic spans both the pre-and post-Mauryan eras.
• The logic period begins from the Kushans to the Gupta period.
• The dawn of the ultra-logic span began in India when India coincided with the advent of imperialism and the western philosophies of utilitarianism, idealism, and empiricism.

Indian Philosophy 

Hindu philosophy, also known as Indian philosophy,  looks for the way to salvation and the meaning of life. The concepts of Karma and moksha, or freedom from the cycle of birth and rebirth, were central to all Indian philosophy. There were two groups of philosophers here- 

• Ashthika– which follows conventional philosophical ideas and regards the Vedas as the main source of knowledge. It has two primary branches, Atheistic (which denies the existence of a God) and Theistic (which believes in the existence of a God). Six Indian philosophical schools made up the Ashthika school of thought. They were Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Purva Mimamsa, Uttara Mimamsa, or Vedanta.
• Nastika– Disregarded the authority of the Vedas as the fundamental source of knowledge. The three branches of the Nashthika school of philosophy are Charvaka, Jainism, and Buddhism (the school of materialism).

Schools of Philosophy 

The schools of philosophy which made up the Ashthika school of thought comprise 6 schools. They are as follows- 

• Samkhya

It is one of the oldest philosophical traditions and was given by Kapila Muni. It holds that two components, Purusha (consciousness or soul) and Prakriti (nature and matter) are the sources of all things in the universe. Despite being the earliest school of thinking, it was formed on logical and scientific principles. These thinkers held that nature, instead of the soul or Purusha, was responsible for the world’s creation; but, by the fourth century A.D., they started giving equal importance to the Purusha in the creation of the universe. Because Samkhya combined both the materialism and spiritualistic aspects in the creation of the world, it was also known as dualistic philosophy. The Samkhya philosophy serves as the theoretical foundation for the Yoga school of thinking.

• Yoga

Yoga is the application of the Samkhya theory. This school of thought was established by the sage Patanjali. According to this theory, nirvana can be attained by mastering the body, mind, and sense organs. Ashtanga yoga, which consists of various asanas and breathing exercises, can help one achieve this nirvana. In this instance, God is viewed as a mentor or teacher rather than a creator.

• Nyaya

The Nyaya, whose literal meaning is “justice,” was another logical, scientific school of philosophy. This idea was put forth by Gautam Muni. This philosophy is based on parmana or pratyaksha pramana, or proof. It emphasizes that anything should be accepted based on logic and personal experience. Nyaya states that accurate knowledge can be obtained through inference, comparison, perception, and testimony.

• Vaisheshika

The Vaisheshik philosophy is founded on metaphysical theory, which emphasizes that everything in the universe may be broken down into atoms, or parmanu.

It was put forth by the wise Kanada. It recognized just two paths to accurate knowledge: pratyakṣa (perception) and anumāṇa (inference). It resembles a naturalistic and objective philosophy of the cosmos in which each atom in the universe is given significance.

• Purva Mimamsa

The wise man Jaimini founded this school of thought. It discusses the significance of mantras and yajnas in maintaining the cosmos. In a sense, it acknowledged the Vedas’ supreme authority, where adherence to their teachings can lead to the route to nirvana. It also says that studying the Vedas is a reliable way to learn and gain knowledge.

• Uttara Mimamsa or Vedanta

The founder of this philosophical system was Badarayana. The Upanishadic section of the Vedas serves as the foundation for Vedanta philosophy, which places a strong emphasis on the Brahma Gyan. Advaita by Adi Shankara, Visishtadvaita by Ramanuja, Dvaita by Madhvacharya, Dvaitadvaita by Nimbarka, Shuddhadvaita by Vallabhacharya, and Achintya Bheda Abheda by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu are the six divisions of the Vedanta philosophy.

Effects of Indian Philosophy on Society 

Indian philosophy had a great impact on society.

• They provided a variety of perspectives regarding the world or the universe.
• Although these six schools of philosophy had different roads, they all pointed toward the same direction of nirvana or liberation.
• These philosophies were founded on the ideas of metaphysics, religion, logic, and epistemology.
• Indian philosophy gave the people the ability to think rationally, because people now began seeking the logic or justification for everything rather than just accepting it, based on blind faith.
• To be liberated from the afflictions of the world, these ideologies stressed the significance of self-realization and made society more logical.

Summary 

Indian philosophical systems have developed millions of years ago and since then were responsible for shaping the community. The Hindu philosophy gave maximum importance to obtaining nirvana, or ultimate salvation. This can be obtained through various paths, which they named schools of philosophy. The 6 schools of philosophy were Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Purva Mimamsa, Uttara Mimamsa, or Vedanta. All these Indian philosophical systems had the same goal: to make society and the people dwelling in it stronger

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Describe Charvaka.
Ans: Chravaka belonged to the Nashthika philosophical tradition. It stressed that there is no other world and that death marks the end of human life. In addition to this, they also believe in materialism.

2. What are the various yoga Techniques under Ashtanga Yoga?
Ans: Ashtanga yoga includes- Yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharna, dhyana, and Samadhi. These yoga techniques help in keeping command over the mind, body, and sense organs.

3. Jainism is considered a Nastika Philosophy. Explain.
Ans: Nastika is primarily a philosophy that rejects the notion of a deity.

Similar to this, Jainism rejected the significance of god, placing ‘Jina’ higher than god. This philosophy was primarily founded on the following three ideas: correct belief, proper knowledge, and right behaviour.

4. What was Buddhist Philosophy?
Ans: Between the severe ritualism of Hinduism and the extreme asceticism of Jainism, Buddhism offers a middle way. This philosophy also gives importance to logical thinking and reasons instead of blind faith.