| Asoka (291?-232 BC),
third Mauryan king (circa 273-232 BC) of Magadha and the most celebrated
ruler of ancient India, known for his benevolent rule and for making Buddhism
the official religion of his empire. The grandson of Chandragupta, founder
of the Maurya dynasty, Asoka enlarged the kingdom he inherited until it
embraced most of the subcontinent. In the process, he made war on the state
of Kalinga, conquering it about 261 BC. When he saw the suffering he had
caused, however, he was overcome with remorse. Renouncing warfare and his
religion, Brahmanism, he turned to Buddhism, with its doctrine of ahimsa
("nonviolence"). Wishing to apply Buddha's principles to all
aspects of everyday life, he instituted gentler laws than the rulers before
him and went among the Indian peasants, preaching and ministering to their
needs. He had rest houses constructed, trees planted, and wells dug, and
he opened medical centers. He issued orders forbidding the harsh treatment
of animals, regulated their slaughter, and established hospitals for them.
In his efforts to propagate Buddhism, Asoka built shrines and monasteries
and inscribed Buddhist teachings on rocks and pillars in many places. He
sent missionaries to countries as remote as Greece and Egypt; his own son,
a monk, carried Buddhism to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), where it is still the
major religion. Despite Asoka's vigorous exertions in behalf of his faith,
he was tolerant of other religions, and India enjoyed marked prosperity
during his reign."Asoka," Microsoft(R) Encarta(R) 97 Encyclopedia.
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