Eternal India Encyclopedia

E t e r n a l I n d i a encyclopedia

LURE - THRU THE AGES

many parts of India - minor rock edicts, Bhabru rock edict, two Kalinga rock edicts, 14 rock edicts, 7 pillar edicts, 4 minor pillar edicts, and 3 cave inscriptions; was kind towards animals, stopped the slaughter of animals, erected the famous pillars some 17 m. in height and 50 tonnes in weight made of fine grained, polished sandstone; his Samath pillar is famous and its capital is the National emblem of independent India. His empire extended upto Afghanistan (Hindukush), Baluchistan and Makara, Sind, Kutch, the Swat valley, Kashmir, Nepal and the whole of India proper, excepting Assam (V. A. Smith). Wars * Capture of Pataliputra and defeat of Nan - das by Chandragupta Maurya. * Defeat of Seleucus by Chandragupta Maurya. * Conflict between Asoka and his brother Susima. * The great war of Kalinga and the capture of Kalinga. Impact * The victories of Chandragupta over the Greek garrisons and the war with Nandas resulted in the establishment of Mauryan empire in India * The Kalinga war fought by Asoka resulted in great carnage and his conversion to Bud- dhism. He renounced war and this was the cause for the decline of the empire after Asoka. Foes - Nandas. Strengths * The superb military skill of Chandragupta Maurya. * Effective Prime Ministership of Chanakya. * Character and rule of Asoka. Weakness * Asoka's policy of renunciation of war and no more territorial expansion; Asoka's pro- Buddhist policy offended Brahmanas. Decline * Although Asoka was a great emperor, the Mauryan empire could not be saved from disintegration especially due to the weak successors of Asoka Maurya. * The fall of the Mauryans was also due to a Brahmanical reaction against the pro-Bud- dhist policy of Asoka (Prof. N.K. Shastri). Renewed Greek incursions of India. * Extreme centralisation of administration (Dr. R. Thapar)

(purity of thought), Kritagnata (gratitude), Drida Bhakti (steadfastness of Devotion), Daya (kindness), Dana (charity), Shaucha (purity), Sathya (truthfulness), Sushrusa (service), Sampratipatti (support) and Apichiti (reverence); he left his famous edicts in

sent Buddhist missionaries including his son Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra to Ceylon; he took pride in calling himself as Devanampriya Priyadarshi (beloved of god); His Dharma or law of piety contained Samyama or (mastery of sense), Bhavasuddhi