Facts About Emperor Ashoka:
Ashoka, the third Samrat of the Maurya dynasty is regarded as one of the most exemplary monarchs in history. The Grandson of Chandragupta Maurya, was fierce, courageous and proficient kid right from the beginning, but he had no mentor in the form of Chanakya. Unlike, Chandragupta where his target was the Nanda King, Ashoka’s huge time was spent in battling with his own family members.
Ashoka was born to a low ranked wife of Bindusar whose son was destined to become a Chakravartin
Ashoka’s mother Subhadrangi (also known as Dharma) was a low ranked queen ofBindusara Unlike other queens she was not a princess but a daughter of a poor Brahmin. However, she was fair and beautiful. What’s more, her son was destined to become a Chakravartin Samrat and this is the reason why the poor Brahmin brought his daughter to Pataliputra to marry King Bindusar. King Bindusar introduced her in his women’s apartment, and as expected all his wives became jealous of her.
Even the chief queen was so insure that they unanimously made her a barber girl. However, she surprised the King with her service. And when the king got to know that she is not an ordinary girl but his own wife, he granted her wish to become a mother of his son. This is when Ashoka was born ending all the sorrows of Subhadrangi.
Ashoka was not liked by his father Bindusar at all
Although the historical fiction Ashoka displays a very unique and special bond between Samrat Bindusar and Ashoka, the truth is that the king had no soft corner for Ashoka. In fact, according to the chronicles since Ashoka was not a good looking boy, he was looked down by his own father. However, Ashoka made his own spot among his brothers by his exceptional valour, skills and courage.
Ashoka Left His First Wife Devi in Ujjain Itself, when he was called back in Pataliputra Again
When Ashoka was 18, he was sent to Ujjain as a viceroy. This is the time when he met his first wife Devi who was daughter of a merchant from Vidisha. They both married. In fact, Ashoka’s son and daughter (Mahendra and Sanghamitra) who are famous for spreading Buddhism were the children of Devi only.
However, when Ashoka was called by the Samrat again in Pataliputra, he went alone without taking his family. It is said that since Devi was a daughter of a merchant she was not fit to become a prince’s wife. So, although Devi was his first wife, his other wife Asandhimitra (a daughter of a king) became his chief queen.
Samrat Bindusar Even Exiled Ashoka from his Kingdom
Bindusar’s favorite son Sushim had huge problems with Ashoka for the mere reason that Ashoka was much more efficient and courageous than him. So, he did not leave any chance to create problems in Ashoka’s life. This is the reason why he insisted Bindusar to send Ashoka to Taxila to stop the revolt of Taxila which was under the governorship of Sushim. However, when Ashoka went, he could surpass the revolt just by his talks. This infuriated Sushim further as his plan failed.
Next, Sushim filled Samrat Bindusar’s ear against Ashoka which resulted in Ashoka’s exile from Pataliputra. This period lasted for two years. This is the phase when Ashoka met Kaurwaki, a fisherwoman and his future wife.
The Constant Suffering Made Him Kill His Own Brothers
After Samrat Bindusar’s death there was a war of succession between the brothers. In this war of succession, Ashoka killed all his brothers leaving just Tishya, his younger brother alive. Although there are texts which highlights that he killed his 99 brothers, the truth lies in the fact that he killed just six of his brothers.
This is some of the facts from the early life of Ashoka, the great. Nevertheless, though Chakravartin Ashoka Samrat was born with a silver spoon, he had to face a lot of hardships in his early life.
Ashoka Killed His 6 Brothers, Not 99
According to the Ceylonese chronicles, Ashoka in his war of succession killed his 99 brothers to ascend the throne of Magadh – sparring only one of his younger brother Tishya. However, such elaboration of Ashoka as Chanda Ashoka (cruel Ashoka) was just an exaggeration by Buddhist writers who wanted to show how the Chanda Ashoka was modified into Dharma Ashoka. According to a Tibetian writer Taranatha, Ashoka killed his six brothers to capture the throne of Magadh.
His Given Name Was Ashoka Vardhana Maurya, but He Assumed the Title of Devanampiya Piyadasi
Although, the Emperor’s name was Ashoka Vardhana Maurya or simply Ashoka meaning without sorrow, he assumed the title of Devanampiya Piyadasi which means ‘Beloved of the Gods’ and ‘He who looks one with affection’. He was also given the name of Chanda Ashoka meaning merciless Ashoka or heartless Ashoka during a phase where he killed all his brothers including crown prince Susima.
Ashoka Made His Youngest Brother His Deputy
Though he killed his brothers, he sparred his youngest brother Tishya. Ashoka made Tishya his deputy king or Uparaja. In addition, evidences from the inscriptions mentions the fact that some of Ashoka’s brothers were made viceroys in various provinces of the Magadh Kingdom including Ujjaini, Suvarnagiri, Tosali and Taxila. They were addressed as Aryaputras and Kumaras.
At the age of 18, Ashoka was made Viceroy of Avanti
Ashoka was born in 304 BCE during Chandragupta Maurya’s time (Chandragupta Maurya died in 298 BCE when he was 6). At the age of 18, he was made Viceroy of Avanti, a province in Ujjaini. It is said that he married his first wife here, and became a father of his first son was born in 284 BCE when he was 20. Two years later, his daughter Sanghamitra was born.
Ashoka’s First Wife Was a Buddhist
Ashoka’s first wife Devi was a Buddhist nurse and a daughter of a merchant. Devi was also the mother of his children Mahendra and Sanghamitra. However, Devi never went to Pataliputra when Ashoka was called back in the capital. It would have been rather unfitting for a merchant’s daughter to be the chief queen. So, she never became his chief queen. Some people even believe she belong to the sakya clan as that of the Buddha .
His Mere Presence Ended an Uprising which Sushim couldn’t Even Manage With An Army
The province of Taxila was highly volatile during the age of Samrat Bindusara mainly because it had the population of the India-Greek warriors. If that was less, there was mismanagement of his elder son Sushim who was the governor of Taxila. However, when Ashoka went to Taxila to surpass the uprising of Taxila on Sushim’s insistence, he was welcomed with open hearts. Surprisingly, the war ended without any fight just by the presence of Ashoka.
Ashoka’s Chief Queen Was Asandhimitra
Since Devi did not belong to the royal patronage, Asandhimitra, Ashoka’s another wife and a princess of the royal family became the chief queen of Ashoka. She did not bore any child. However, she remained his chief consort for 30 years till she died her own death in 240 BCE.
Ashoka Ruled For 40 Years
While Chandragupta Maurya ruled for 24 years, Bindusara his scuccessor for 25 years, Emperor Ashoka, the third Samrat of the Maurya Empire ruled for 40 years. He remained a Chakravartin with absolute power. Unlike other kings and emperors, he neither faced any external war, nor an invasion threat from the Greeks with whom he had diplomatic relations.
Samrat Ashoka was a Devotee of Shiva
Everybody knows that Ashoka, the Great converted into Buddhism after the Kalinga War. However, Samrat Ashoka is believed to be a Shiva devotee prior to his inclination towards Dhamma and Buddhism. No wonder, the Mauryan clan were Shaivas.
