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CONVERSION OF ASOKA : A POLITICAL DRAMA

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Ground of Truth for Geography and Literature

If I am saying Indo –Pak war fought in Africa then what will be the conclusion? Either there is no war or there is certain error in recording the document. In the same way the question of Asokan conversion either to be clarified from the Edicts of Asoka or from Buddhist literal sources. Each and every religion has recorded their war history in a much dramatized way. But if Buddhist chronicle not recorded the so called Kalinga War (if happened ) then whole story became a confused one. Sri Lankan Version of Asokan Conversion does not refer to any war or Kalinga War. Buddhist religious sources gives two stories in connection with the conversion. One centric around ‘Nigrodha’, the posthumous son of Sumana the eldest brother of Asoka , to whom(Sumana) Asoka killed during the conflict for the Crown Throne.

Age of Nigrodha

After killing his all Brothers (ghātetvā jeṭṭhakaṁ, 09 rajjaṁ aggahesi pure vare. MHV33-48[283]- after killing (all) his elder brothers, he took sovereignty over the noble city.) Asoka’s accession to the throne happened . Nigrodha was born in the year of Asoka’s accession to the throne and at the age of 7 he became a monk by special dispensation , and preached to the monarch. A little small boy and as a nephew Asoka so impressed that he readily converted to Buddhism. The conversion story may be an emotional one and want to made a reconciliation between Asoka and his nephew and added a religious mask to Asoka so that Buddhism may not be targeted by others.
“By his seventh year Asoka was confident that there was no danger to his position on the throne from any male relatives. Restrictions may have been relaxed and Nigrodha made welcome in the royal household. Not being direct heir the boy may in later years become a Buddhist monk.”[Romila Thaper-AaDMp-34-35]
Convert html m294b4084If at the 7th years of coronation Asoka turned to Buddhism then Kalinga war on 8th year of coronation having meaningless. “An interesting point which emerges from the Edicts is that Asoka fervor for Buddhism increased during his later years .”[Compare the kalinga Edict with the Schism Edict. Bloch, Les Inscriptions d’ Asoka, pp. 136-43, 152-53”]
The question of conversion from the Edict also not supported a immediate one,rather it shows it as a gradual process and the reason is political and personal not to any specific incident on war. From Minor Rock Edict-“…Adhikani addhatiyani vasani yada aham upasako na tu kho balham pakata ahosim, ekam samvacchare satireka to kho samvaccharam yam maya smghe upasito balham ca me pakata Imina……///…When I was a lay devotee for more than two and half years , no exceeding growth was apparent. After a year when I started serving Samgha , there was exceeding Growth.

The conversion of Asoka In Mahavamsa

[The Conversion of Asoka – 1]
276-291 = Mhv. 33-48
Rājābhisitto so ‘soko kumāraṁ Tissam-avhayaṁ, 02
kaniṭṭhaṁ sa 03 sodariyaṁ uparajje ‘bhisiñcayi. [276]
The consecrated King Asoka also consecrated the prince called Tissa, who was his younger brother of the same Mother, to the vice-sovereignty.
Convert html m4588c419Pitā saṭṭhisahassāni brāhmaṇe brahmapakkhike
bhojesi, so pi te yeva tīṇi vassāni bhojayi. [277]
His Father (Bindusāra) had fed sixty-thousand brāhmaṇas of the brāhmaṇa faction, and for three years he also fed them.
Disvānupasamaṁ tesaṁ Asoko pi nivesane: 04
But having seen they were not quiet in his house Asoka, said:
“Viceyya dānaṁ dassan”-ti amacce sannipātayi. 05 [278]
“After investigating the donation I will give,” and gathered his ministers.
Ānāpayitvā 06 matimā nānāpāsaṇḍike visuṁ
The wise one, after having the various sectarians brought separately
vīmaṁsitvā nisajjāya bhojāpetvā visajjayi. 07 [279]
and investigated on their seat, after feeding them, sent them away.

Kāle vātāyanagato santaṁ racchāgataṁ yatiṁ, Nigrodhasāmaṇeraṁ so disvā, cittaṁ pasādayi. [280]

One time, while stood at the window, after seeing a peaceful striver, 08 the novice Nigrodha, going along the street, his heart gained faith.

Bindusārassa puttānaṁ sabbesaṁ jeṭṭhabhātuno,
Sumanassa kumārassa putto so hi kumārako. [281]
The young man was the son of prince Sumana, the eldest brother of all of Bindusāra’s children.
Asoko Pitarā dinnaṁ rajjaṁ Ujjeniyaṁ hi so hitvā, gato Pupphapuraṁ Bindusāre gilānake, [282]

Asoka had left the sovereignty of Ujjenī, given by his Father, and gone to the City of Flowers when Bindusāra was sick,
katvā puraṁ sakāyattaṁ, mate Pitari, bhātaraṁ
and after taking possession of the city, with the death of his Father,

ghātetvā jeṭṭhakaṁ, 09 rajjaṁ aggahesi pure vare. [283]
after killing (all) his elder brothers, he took sovereignty over the noble city.

Hsuan Tsang and ‘Divyavadana’ story saying different on conversion
Under the Divyavadana story A prison was established by Asoka at Pataliputra under the direction of Girika, and the inmates were put to severe tortures. On one occasion Samudra, an ex-merchant from Shravasti who had become a monk, was put into the prison, but by his miraculous powers managed to save himself. Asoka hearing of this visited the monk, and was so impressed by the series of miracles which he performed that the royal observer was soon a devotee of Buddhism. This story has all the ingredients of the usual conversion stories, previous wickedness, revelation through a series of miracles, and final conversion. [ADM=pg.-35]
Convert html m36180ae9A-yu-wang-chuan story on conversion & Asokavadana story
This story states that Asokan conversion to Buddhism due to a 7 year old Shramana. One of the stories relates that once a group of 500 Brahmins harassed Asoka due to his favour towards Buddhisism but when he (Asoka) visited the monastery Kukkutarama he their found the same 500 Brahmins now miraculously turned into Buddhist Bhikkhus. This story may be influenced by local folk lore but it seems similarity with other concept in one ground that Asokan turn to Buddhsm due to a young monk not it is a result of any war type situation.
In Asokavadana story, it related to a twelve year monk who is responsible for conversion . He is responsible for conversion and the name of the boy was Samudra and he is a son of a merchant.

When Killing of Brothers Recorded in Buddhist Chronicle then why not Kalinga War?
Killing of Brothers very well recorded in Buddhist literal chronicle but not in the Edict where as there is no reference of his Brother’s killing and family drama in the Edicts if all the Edict writer is Asoka so called Dvanampiya, then which one is right? It is a greatest question mark. Why Buddhist literatures want to over shadow his family violence? Is it due to Great pressure of Ramayana where Brother Laxmana and Bharata’s devotion towards their brother Rama always have a great impression in Indian mind? Therefore the error is clear. All violence and conversion theory centric around family drama not of any devastated war references.

Convert html 2a44e719It is a very simple question that , if Asokan conversion story relating around his family killings and devastation then why not it recorded the same Kalingan violence in literary concept? All the same, after reading different types of edict(Pilar, Minor and major) another single reference on war or Kalingan king why not found is a great question mark. One can’t avoid by just saying that Buddhist don’t want to record violence so that they avoid writing Kalinga war or Asoka so disheartened that he omit to write Kalinga war. The base point is very weaker one when we refer to great Buddhist chronicle Mahavamsa.
Finally going through the conversion story it looks like to avoid the family violence action of Asoka to acquire the throne. Ramayana always a greater impact in India from ancient time. Even in ‘Geeta’ Lord Krishna says “I am Raama , when I hold weapon”. In Ramayana ‘Bharata’ and ‘Laxmana’s ‘sacrifice always a great boost up theory for King Ship and guide line for monarchy. Seeing this, all the Asokan Buddhism conversion story looks likely to avoid family violence, When 99 brother’s killing for the throne can write down, then why not Kalinga war is written properly? It is a great question mark.

5 COMMENTS

  1. Ok, a lot of assumptions here… first of all not all wars are reported . There are numerous wars that happened in the country before, not all will remembered in the future. The battle of Kainga can and has been proved before and it is a fact. i don’t understand your grudge aganst Ashoka but it is really childish. You seriously need to get your head examined if you seriously believe in things you write about. I would request every reader here to disregard these writings as mere ramblings. These poor pathetic excuse for writing should really make us ashamed of our education system that produces dumbos like the author above. Ashoka was a great King of the country and he should be regarded as such.

  2. “It is a very simple question that , if Asokan conversion story relating around his family killings and devastation then why not it recorded the same Kalingan violence in literary concept? All the same, after reading different types of edict(Pilar, Minor and major) another single reference on war or Kalingan king why not found is a great question mark. One can’t avoid by just saying that Buddhist don’t want to record violence so that they avoid writing Kalinga war or Asoka so disheartened that he omit to write Kalinga war. The base point is very weaker one when we refer to great Buddhist chronicle Mahavamsa.
    Finally going through the conversion story it looks like to avoid the family violence action of Asoka to acquire the throne. ”

    Buddhists have had a tradition of hiding ugly side of Buddhist scholars. Buddhism wanted to spread in the country and looking peaceful was absolutely necessary for the protection of Buddhsim and seeling it to gullible people. So, it makes sense that extremely violent sections of buddhist history, especially of a personality of Ashoka could be easily ignored. Kalinga was recorded by many others who weren’t Buddhists and so can be considered neutral (Hindus for example) and therefore, the conversrion story of Ashoka is not recorded officially in the edicts of buddhism.

    “When 99 brother’s killing for the throne can write down, then why not Kalinga war is written properly? It is a great question mark”

    I think you have a screw loose in you if you believe that Kaurava’s were killed for throne. It just shows that you are using a stupid bigoted language to ridicule the essence of Mahabharata. It is not possible to take your ramblings seriously if you are so biased and have so much hatred for remarkable Hindu theological texts which are basically the life line of the Indian literature and culture. The real reason for Mahabharat was to get justice for the cheating done by Kaurava to Pandavs, their own brothers. The reason for the recital of Shrimad Bhagvad Geeta (and not just “Geetha” as you have written) was to remind Arjun of his duty to do justice to his own brothers and take the property that rightfully had belonged to them. Remember that Pandavs tried to avoid conflict by just asking for five villages instead of the entire kingdom. You really need to get off your high horse and see the reality

  3. swagatika,

    I have read several of your ramblings and conspiracy theories being presented as “facts”. Although it’s good for a fictional story book, your hatred for Ashoka is disturbing and seems to be motivated by some third party. I would like to know which christianmuslim/ngo is paying you to write these articles so we can get a little clear on your inspiration for writing your stupid articles. I can’t believe jokers like you are passed as “journaists” in our media. Really shameful .

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