The legacy of Ashoka the Great, emperor of the Mauryan Empire (268-232 BCE), is deeply intertwined with the spread of Buddhism. The prevailing story about his affiliation with Buddhism includes him witnessing the horrors of the Kalinga war and subsequently giving up all forms of violence to the Buddhist mission of peace and Dhamma. But not all believe this story to be true and doubt if Ashoka did really convert to Buddhism. The answer, like much of ancient history, is a nuanced one. Let's delve into the evidence:
Ashoka's Major Rock Edict XIII on his conversion:
These inscriptions carved throughout his vast empire offer a window into his evolving worldview. Edict 13 describes the immense loss of life in the Kalinga War and Ashoka's deep remorse for the violence. The edict also emphasizes Dhamma (righteousness) and ahimsa (non-violence), core Buddhist principles. While it doesn't explicitly state conversion, the shift in focus is undeniable:
When king Devanampriya Priyadarsin had been anointed eight years, (the country of) the Kalingas was conquered by (him). One hundred and fifty thousand in number were the men who were deported thence, one hundred thousand in number were those who were slain there, and many times as many those who died.
After that, now that (the country of) the Kalingyas has been taken, Devanampriya (is devoted) to a zealous study of Dhamma, to the love of Dhamma, and to the instruction (of people) in Dhamma.
This is the repentance of Devanampriya on account of his conquest of (the country of) the Kalingyas. For, this is considered very painful and deplorable by Devanampriya, that, while one is conquering an unconquered (country), slaughter, death, and deportation of people (are taking place) there,
Therefore even the hundredth part or the thousandth part of all those people who were slain, who died, and who were deported at that time when (the country of) the Kalingas was taken, (would) now be considered very deplorable by Devanampriya.
- Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_Rock_Edicts#Major_Rock_Edict_13 and https://archive.org/details/InscriptionsOfAsoka.NewEditionByE.Hultzsch/page/n185/mode/2up
Thus we have archaeological inscriptions that confirm that Ashoka did indeed conquer Kalinga and subsequently became more devoted to Buddhism, it doesn't explicitly say that he was converted due to the devastation of the Kalinga war.
However, Buddhist texts have something to say on the matter -
Ashoka and Buddhism - references from Buddhist texts.
Surprisingly, early Buddhist texts don't mention the Kalinga War. But they recount stories of Ashoka's transformation. He's often referred to as "Chand-Ashoka" (Fierce Ashoka) before his conversion and "Dhamma-Ashoka" (Ashoka the Righteous) after. These legends depict his encounter with a monk and his eventual embrace of Buddhist teachings. While likely allegorical, they reflect how the Buddhist community viewed his conversion.
Mahavamsa and Dipavamsa on Ashoka's conversion
Mahāvaṃsa, or "Great Chronicle" in Pali, is a historical chronicle of Sri Lanka written in the 5th or 6th century CE by Buddhist monks. Although these chronicles were written much later than Ashoka's reign, they are foundational texts for Sri Lankan history and Buddhism. However, their historical accuracy for Ashoka's time period is debated by historians. The Dipavamsa ("Island Chronicle") is estimated to be even older, with parts possibly dating back to the 3rd century BCE, but its final form is also believed to be from the 4th-5th century CE.
These chronicles suggest that Ashoka had converted to Buddhism during his 4th regnal year, constructed 84,000 viharas during his 5th–7th regnal years, during his sixth regnal year, Ashoka's son Mahinda became a Buddhist monk, and his daughter a Buddhist nun, and Ashoka, thus, was already a devoted Buddhist by his 8th regnal year when, as per his edict, he waged the war on Kalinga. Another Buddhist text 'Samantapasadika' reiterates that Ashoka followed non-Buddhist sects during the first three years of his reign.
Dipavamsa also mentions that Ashoka's father, Bindusara, was a devotee of Brahmanism, and his mother Dharma was a devotee of Ajivikas. Thus confirming that Ashoka did not inherit Buddhism from his parents.
Conversion by the hands of Ashoka's nephew, Nigrodha
The Dipavamsa narrates the following story -
Ashoka invited several non-Buddhist religious leaders to his palace and bestowed great gifts upon them in the hope that they would answer a question posed by the king. None of the invitees were able to answer it. One day, Ashoka saw a young Buddhist monk called Nigrodha, looking for alms on a road in Pataliputra. Ashoka was impressed by Nigrodha's tranquil and fearless appearance and asked him to teach him his faith. In response, Nigrodha offered him a sermon on appamada (earnestness). Impressed by the sermon, Ashoka offered Nigrodha 400,000 silver coins and 8 daily portions of rice. The king became a Buddhist upasaka, and started visiting the Kukkutarama shrine at Pataliputra.
At the temple, he met the Buddhist monk Moggaliputta Tissa, and became more devoted to the Buddhist faith.
The integrity of this story is not certain. This legend about Ashoka's search for a worthy teacher may be aimed at explaining why Ashoka did not adopt other faiths. The legend also suggests that Ashoka was attracted to Buddhism because he sought a competent spiritual teacher.
Story of his conversion from Divyavadana & Ashokavadana
A story in Divyavadana attributes Ashoka's conversion to the Buddhist monk Samudra, an ex-merchant from Shravasti. Samudra was imprisoned in the "Ashoka's Hell", but saved himself using his miraculous powers. When Ashoka heard about this, he visited the monk and was further impressed by a series of miracles performed by him. Ashoka then became a Buddhist.[
A story in the Ashokavadana states that Samudra was a merchant's son, and was a 12-year-old boy when he met Ashoka; this account seems to be influenced by the Nigrodha story.
A possible influence of Ashoka's Buddhist wife
Mahavmsa also mentions that Ashoka's wife, Devi, was a Buddhist. She was the mother of Ashoka's children, Mahinda and Sanghamitra, who played significant roles in spreading Buddhism. It is possible, hence, that she might have played a part in Ashoka's conversion to Buddhism.
However, there's no mention of Devi's religion in Ashoka's edicts or other contemporary sources considered more reliable. The chronicles might have portrayed Devi as Buddhist to strengthen the narrative of Sri Lanka's Buddhist heritage.
Did Ashoka convert to Buddhism?: Conclusion
Some scholars argue Ashoka might have already been leaning toward Buddhism before the Kalinga War, influenced by his wife's Buddhist background. The war may have intensified his commitment. The silence of Buddhist texts regarding the Kalinga War itself suggests the possibility that Ashoka's embrace of Buddhism wasn't solely a reaction to the war.
The evidence overwhelmingly suggests that Ashoka the Great did convert to Buddhism, or at least adopted its core principles. His remorse for the bloodshed, his promotion of Dhamma and ahimsa, and the way he's portrayed in Buddhist texts all point towards a significant shift. Whether the Kalinga War was the sole trigger or a culmination of existing beliefs remains a subject of debate. Regardless, Ashoka's reign marks a pivotal moment in the history of Buddhism, solidifying its presence in India and beyond.
To know more about the story of Kalinga war and the stories of Ashoka's conversion and the effects it had on him, watch our last episode from the series on Mauryan Empire:
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