Ashoka invaded Kalinga in 261 BC. The Mauryan army ultimately defeated the Kalinga army. According to an Ashoka edict 100 000 people were killed in this war and 150 000 were taken prisoners. The death and destruction which followed the Kalinga war made Ashoka sad and unhappy.

Legend says that one day after the war was over, Ashoka ventured out to roam the city and all he could see were burnt houses and scattered corpses. The lethal war with Kalinga transformed the vengeful Emperor Ashoka into a stable and peaceful emperor, and he became a patron of Buddhism.

Ashoka fought a war to conquer Kalinga. It was his last war. He decided to give up fighting wars after the victory over Kalinga, because he was horrified by the violence and bloodshed in that. He is the only king in the history of the world who gave up conquest after winning a war.

In the entire Indian history this war is considered as the deadliest war costing nearly 250,000 lives….Kalinga War.

There was huge loss of man and material in the Kalinga war. In this war 150,000 soldiers from the side of Kalinga were taken as prisoners by Asoka and 100,000 were slain and many others got died out of injuries and epidemic after the war.

Ashoka was deeply moved by the blood-shed and destruction in the Kalinga war e.g. 150 thousand prisoners, 100,000 were slain and many more were injured. He adopted Buddhism and ordered a ban on killing animals and human beings too.

As stated in 13th major rock edict of Ashoka, he was deeply saddened by the huge loss of lives in Kalinga war and gave up bloodshed and violence. Thereafter, Ashoka primarily focused on spreading his message of Dhamma and the concept of Dhammavijaya instead of military victories.

Complete Step by Step answer: The Dhamma mahamatras were officers who helped in propagating the message of Dhamma and also enabling the emperor to keep in touch with the public opinion. The duties of the Dhamma mahamatras are explained in the major rock edict no V, built by Ashoka.

Sarnath

Solution: Ashoka adopted the following means to spreads his message of dhamma: He appointed officials, known as Dhamma Mahamatta who went from place to place to spread the message of dhamma. He got his messages inscribed on rocks and pillars to spread the to the common people.

Dhammamahamatras were special officers appointed by Emperor Ashoka in order to spread and enforce the principles of dhamma.

Brihadratha

Prakrit

The following are the main principles of Ashoka’s dhamma: People should live in peace and harmony. Everyone should practise the principle of ahimsa, i.e. non-violence and non-injury to all living beings. People should love one another and display respect and tolerance towards other religious faiths.

Ashoka pleaded for tolerance of different religious sects in an attempt to create a sense of harmony. The policy of Dhamma also laid stress on non-violence, which was to be practiced by giving up war and conquests and also as a restraint on the killing of animals.

1)The ultimate aim of Ashoka’s Dhamma was to create a harmonious atmosphere in the state, where all people irrespective of their religious and cultural diversities, lived in peace and harmony with each other.

Answer. Answer: There has been some discussion among historians about the results Ashoka’s propagation of Dhamma. Some historians believe that Ashoka’s ban of sacrifices and the favour that he showed to Buddhism led to a Brahmanical reaction, which in turn led to the decline of Mauryan empire.

Ashoka’s dhamma was propagated in the following ways: His son Mahendra and daughter Sanghamitra went to Sri Lanka in order to spread the message of dhamma. Ashoka also appointed special officers known as Dhammamahamatras in order to spread and enforce the principles of Buddhism throughout the empire.

Ashoka’s messages to his subjects: What are these other practices? These are: being gentle with slaves and servants. Respecting one’s elders. Treating all creatures with compassion.

Ashoka appointed officials, known as the dhamma mahamatta who went from place to place teaching people about dhamma. Ashoka got his messages inscribed on rocks and pillars, instructing his officials to read his message to those who could not read it themselves.

What were Ashoka’s beliefs? After Ashoka’s successful but devastating conquest of Kalinga early in his rule, he converted to Buddhism and was inspired by its doctrine of dharma. Thereafter, he ruled his empire through peace and tolerance and focused on public works and building up the empire rather than expanding it.

Ashoka’s Dhamma did not involve worship of a God, performance of a sacrifice or performance of Yagna.

The factors which led to the decline of Mauryan Empire are as following:

• The religious policy of Ashoka. The religious policy of Ashoka antagonized the Brahmins of his empire.
• Huge Expenditure on army and bureaucracy.
• Oppressive rule in provinces.
• Neglect of North-West frontier.
• Significance of Mauryan Age.