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'''Ashoka''' ({{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|ʃ|oʊ|k|ə}}, {{IAST3|Aśoka}}; also ''Asoka''; {{circa|304}} – 232 BCE), popularly known as '''Ashoka the Great''', and also referred to as '''Chakraravartin Samrat Ashoka''', was the third [[Mauryan Emperor]] of [[Magadha]] in the [[Indian subcontinent]] during {{circa|268}} to 232 BCE. His empire covered a large part of the Indian subcontinent, stretching from present-day [[Afghanistan]] in the west to present-day [[Bangladesh]] in the east, with its capital at [[Pataliputra]]. A patron of [[Buddhism]], he is credited with playing an important role in the spread of Buddhism across ancient Asia. | '''Ashoka''' ({{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|ʃ|oʊ|k|ə}}, {{IAST3|Aśoka}}; also ''Asoka''; {{circa|304}} – 232 BCE), popularly known as '''Ashoka the Great''', and also referred to as '''Chakraravartin Samrat Ashoka''', was the third [[Mauryan Emperor]] of [[Magadha]] in the [[Indian subcontinent]] during {{circa|268}} to 232 BCE. His empire covered a large part of the Indian subcontinent, stretching from present-day [[Afghanistan]] in the west to present-day [[Bangladesh]] in the east, with its capital at [[Pataliputra]]. A patron of [[Buddhism]], he is credited with playing an important role in the spread of [[Buddhism ]]across ancient [[Asia]].The first perception of the whole of India as a country comes with the [[Mauryan Empire]]. The inscriptions of the Mauryan emperor Ashoka range from [[Kandahar]] and north of [[Kabul]] to [[Karnataka ]]and [[Andhra]] and they are in[[ Prakrit]], [[Greek ]]and [[Aramaic]]. So it was with such political unity that the concept of India came, and its first name was [[Jambudvipa]] a name which Ashoka uses in his [[Minor Rock Edict]]-I, meaning ''the land of the Jamun fruit.''<ref name="HABIB”>" Pg.9 : The first perception of the whole of India as a country comes with the Mauryan Empire. Those of you, who have studied Indian history would know that the inscriptions of the Mauryan emperor Ashoka range from Kandahar and north of Kabul to Karnataka and Andhra and they are in Prakrit, Greek and Aramaic. So it was with such political unity that the concept of India came, and its first name was Jambudvipa a name which Ashoka uses in his Minor Rock Edict-1, meaning 'the land of the Jamun fruit.’"{{Cite book|url=http://archive.org/details/IdeaofIndiabyIrfanHabib|page=9|title=Idea of India by Irfan Habib|first=Irfan |last=Habib|date=2015-10-24}}</ref> | ||
Ashoka's edicts state that during his eighth regnal year ({{Circa|260 BCE}}), he conquered [[Kalinga (historical region)|Kalinga]] after a [[Kalinga War|brutal war]]. Ashoka subsequently devoted himself to the propagation of "[[Ashoka's policy of Dhamma|dhamma]]" or righteous conduct, the major theme of the edicts. Ashoka's edicts suggest that a few years after the [[Kalinga War]], he was gradually drawn towards Buddhism. The Buddhist legends credit Ashoka with establishing a large number of [[stupa]]s, patronising the [[Third Buddhist council]], supporting Buddhist missionaries, making generous donations to the Buddhist Sangha. | Ashoka's edicts state that during his eighth regnal year ({{Circa|260 BCE}}), he conquered [[Kalinga (historical region)|Kalinga]] after a [[Kalinga War|brutal war]]. Ashoka subsequently devoted himself to the propagation of "[[Ashoka's policy of Dhamma|dhamma]]" or righteous conduct, the major theme of the edicts. Ashoka's edicts suggest that a few years after the [[Kalinga War]], he was gradually drawn towards Buddhism. The Buddhist legends credit Ashoka with establishing a large number of [[stupa]]s, patronising the [[Third Buddhist council]], supporting Buddhist missionaries, making generous donations to the Buddhist Sangha. | ||
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— Ashoka, Major Rock Edict No. 13 [https://books.google.co.in/books?id=K4vHjbUtf_4C&pg=PT82&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false] | — Ashoka, Major Rock Edict No. 13 [https://books.google.co.in/books?id=K4vHjbUtf_4C&pg=PT82&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false] | ||
===Boundaries sharing territories === | ===Boundaries sharing territories=== | ||
Even though Ashoka defined the boundaries of his empire four times in various inscriptions ('''with same lines''') but he never mentioned any inner hole or unconquered region inside his empire.This suggests that Ashoka's empire was likely contiguous, with no significant unconquered regions within its borders : | |||
---- | |||
<blockquote> | |||
''3. Sav[r]atra vijite [De]va[naṃ]priyasa Priyadraśisa y[e] ca [a]ṃta yathā [Coḍa] Paṃḍiya Satiyaputro Keraḍaputro Taṃbapaṃṇī Aṃtiyo[k]o nāma Yonaraja ye ca aṃñe tasa Aṃtiyokasa samaṃta rajano '' | |||
''4. savratra Devanaṃpriyasa Priyadraśisa raño du[vi] cik[i]sa [kr]i[ṭa] manusa-cikisa .. pa[śu-c]ikisa [ca]'' | |||
—Second Rock-Edict: Shahbazgarhi [https://archive.org/details/dli.ministry.25989/page/51/mode/1up] | |||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
- | ---- | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
Sav[a]ta vijitsi Devanampiyas[a] Piyadasis[a] lajine ye cha amta [a]tha Choda Pam[di] | ''4. Sav[a]ta vijitsi Devanampiyas[a] Piyadasis[a] lajine ye cha amta [a]tha Choda Pam[di]ya Satiyaputo Ke[lala]puto Tamba[pa]mni'' | ||
''5. Aṃtiyoge [n]āma Yona-lājā ye ca aṃne tas[ā A]ṃtiyogasā sā[ma]ṃta lā[j]ano [sa]vatā Devānaṃpiyasā Piyadasisā lājine duve cikisakā kaṭā manusacikisā cā pasu-cikisā cā '' | |||
—Second Rock Edict: Kalsi [https://archive.org/details/dli.ministry.25989/page/28/mode/1up] | |||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
- | ---- | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
''6. Sa[vatra vi]jitasi Devanapriyasa Priyadrasisa rajine ye cha ata atha [Choda] Pa[mdiya] Sa[ti]ya[p]u[tra] Keralaputra [Tam]bapani Atiyoge nama Yona-raja ye cha [a] .... sa ......[gasa] samata ra[jane sa]vratra ...... priyasa Priyadrasisa rajine'' | |||
''7. duve chikisa [ka]ta manusa-chik[isa cha] pasu [chi]kisa cha '' | |||
—Second Rock Edict: Mansehra [https://archive.org/details/dli.ministry.25989/page/71/mode/1up] | |||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
- | ---- | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
''1. Sarvata vijitamhi Devānaṃpriyasa Piyadasino rāño'' | |||
''' | ''2. evamapi pracaṃtesu yathā Coḍa Pāḍā Satiyaputo Ketalaputo ā Taṃba-'' | ||
''3. paṃṇī Aṃtiyako Yona-rājā ye vā pi tasa Aṃtiy[a]kas[a] sāmīp[aṃ] '' | |||
''4. rājāno sarvatra Devānaṃpriyasa Priyadasino rāño dve cikīcha katā '' | |||
''5 manusa-cīkichā ca pasu cikīchā ca'' | |||
—Second Rock Edict :Girnar [https://archive.org/details/dli.ministry.25989/page/n136/mode/1up] | |||
</blockquote> | |||
---- | |||
'''— [[James Prinsep]] Translation''' : Everywhere within the conquered province of Raja Piyadasi (Ashoka), the beloved of the gods, as well as in the parts occupied by the faithful, such as Chola, Pandiya, Satiyaputra, and Keralaputra, even as fart as Tambapanni (Sri Lanka) and, moreover, within the dominions the Greek (of which [[Antiochus]] generals are the rulers ) everywhere the heaven-beloved Raja Piyadasi’s double system of medical aid is established— both medical aid for men, and medical aid for animals, together with the medicaments of all sorts, which are suitable for men, and suitable for animals.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.ministry.25520/page/117/mode/1up|title=Complete Works of Alexander Cunningham: Inscriptions of Asoka Vol I|last=Cunningham|page=117|first=Alexander|date=1969|publisher=Indological Book House, Varanasi}}</ref> | |||
'''— [[E. Hultzsch]] Translation:''' Everywhere in the dominions of Dévanampriya Priyadarsina, and (of those) who (are his) borderers, such as the Cholas, the Pandyas, the Satiyaputra, the Kéralaputra, Tamaraparni, the Yona(Greek) king named Antiyoka , and the other kings who are the neighbours of this Antiyoka, everywhere two kinds of medical treatment were established by king Devanampriya Priyadarsin, (viz.) medical treatment for men and medical treatment for cattle.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.ministry.25989/page/52/mode/1up|title=Inscriptions of Asoka, Vol. I|page=52|last=Hultzsch|first=E.|date=1989|publisher=Indological Book House, Varanasi}}</ref> | |||
[[File:Ashoka Maurya Empire 250 BCE.jpg|thumb|Possible Mauryan Empire size according to details given in Ashoka Second Rock Edict of Shahbazgarhi , Kalsi ,Mansera and Girnar.]] | [[File:Ashoka Maurya Empire 250 BCE.jpg|thumb|Possible Mauryan Empire size according to details given in Ashoka Second Rock Edict of Shahbazgarhi , Kalsi ,Mansera and Girnar.]] | ||
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==Foreign relations== | ==Foreign relations== | ||
It is well known that Ashoka sent ''dütas'' or emissaries to convey messages or letters, written or oral (rather both), to various people. The VIth Rock Edict about "oral orders" reveals this. It was later confirmed that it was not unusual to add oral messages to written ones, and the content of Ashoka's messages can be inferred likewise from the XIIIth Rock Edict: They were meant to spread his ''dhammavijaya,'' which he considered the highest victory and which he wished to propagate everywhere (including far beyond India). There is obvious and undeniable trace of cultural contact through the adoption of the [[Kharosthi]] script, and the idea of installing inscriptions might have travelled with this script, as [[Achaemenid]] influence is seen in some of the formulations used by Ashoka in his inscriptions. This indicates to us that Ashoka was indeed in contact with other cultures, and was an active part in mingling and spreading new cultural ideas beyond his own immediate walls.<ref name="Hinuber2012">{{cite journal | author=Oskar von Hinüber |title=Did Hellenistic Kings Send Letters to Aśoka? | journal=Journal of the American Oriental Society |volume=130 | issue=2 | year=2010 | publisher=Freiburg | pages=262–265}}</ref> | It is well known that Ashoka sent ''dütas'' or emissaries to convey messages or letters, written or oral (rather both), to various people. The VIth Rock Edict about "oral orders" reveals this. It was later confirmed that it was not unusual to add oral messages to written ones, and the content of Ashoka's messages can be inferred likewise from the XIIIth Rock Edict: They were meant to spread his ''dhammavijaya,'' which he considered the highest victory and which he wished to propagate everywhere (including far beyond India). There is obvious and undeniable trace of cultural contact through the adoption of the [[Kharosthi]] script, and the idea of installing inscriptions might have travelled with this script, as [[Achaemenid]] influence is seen in some of the formulations used by Ashoka in his inscriptions. This indicates to us that Ashoka was indeed in contact with other cultures, and was an active part in mingling and spreading new cultural ideas beyond his own immediate walls.<ref name="Hinuber2012">{{cite journal | author=Oskar von Hinüber |title=Did Hellenistic Kings Send Letters to Aśoka? | journal=Journal of the American Oriental Society |volume=130 | issue=2 | year=2010 | publisher=Freiburg | pages=262–265}}</ref> | ||
===Hellenistic world=== | ===Hellenistic world=== | ||
In his rock edicts, Ashoka states that he had encouraged the transmission of Buddhism to the [[Hellenistic period|Hellenistic kingdoms]] to the west and that the Greeks in his dominion were converts to Buddhism and recipients of his envoys: | In his rock edicts, Ashoka states that he had encouraged the transmission of Buddhism to the [[Hellenistic period|Hellenistic kingdoms]] to the west and that the Greeks in his dominion were converts to Buddhism and recipients of his envoys: | ||
{{blockquote|Now it is conquest by Dhamma that Beloved-of-the-Gods considers to be the best conquest. And it (conquest by Dhamma) has been won here, on the borders, even six hundred yojanas away, where the Greek king [[Antiochus II Theos|Antiochos]] rules, beyond there where the four kings named [[Ptolemy II Philadelphus|Ptolemy]], [[Antigonus II Gonatas|Antigonos]], [[Magas of Cyrene|Magas]] and [[Alexander II of Epirus|Alexander]] rule, likewise in the south among the Cholas, the Pandyas, and as far as Tamraparni. | {{blockquote| | ||
[[File:Territories conquered by the Dharma according to Ashoka.jpg|thumb|Territories "conquered by the Dhamma" according to [[Major Rock Edicts|Major Rock Edict No.13]] of Ashoka (260–218 BCE).{{sfn|Kosmin|2014|p=57}}<ref name="ME368">Thomas Mc Evilly "The shape of ancient thought", Allworth Press, New York, 2002, p.368</ref>]] | |||
Now it is conquest by Dhamma that Beloved-of-the-Gods considers to be the best conquest. And it (conquest by Dhamma) has been won here, on the borders, even six hundred yojanas away, where the Greek king [[Antiochus II Theos|Antiochos]] rules, beyond there where the four kings named [[Ptolemy II Philadelphus|Ptolemy]], [[Antigonus II Gonatas|Antigonos]], [[Magas of Cyrene|Magas]] and [[Alexander II of Epirus|Alexander]] rule, likewise in the south among the Cholas, the Pandyas, and as far as Tamraparni. | |||
Here in the king's domain among the Greeks, the Kambojas, the Nabhakas, the Nabhapamktis, the Bhojas, the Pitinikas, the Andhras and the Palidas, everywhere people are following Beloved-of-the-Gods' instructions in Dhamma. Even where Beloved-of-the-Gods' envoys have not been, these people too, having heard of the practice of Dhamma and the ordinances and instructions in Dhamma given by Beloved-of-the-Gods, are following it and will continue to do so. | [[Edicts of Ashoka]], [[Ashoka's Major Rock Edict|Rock Edict]] (S. Dhammika)<ref>[http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/dhammika/wheel386.html#rock14 The Edicts of King Ashoka: an English rendering by Ven. S. Dhammika] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510060618/http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/dhammika/wheel386.html |date=10 May 2016 }}. Access to Insight: Readings in Theravāda Buddhism. Retrieved 1 September 2011.</ref>|source=}} | Here in the king's domain among the Greeks, the Kambojas, the Nabhakas, the Nabhapamktis, the Bhojas, the Pitinikas, the Andhras and the Palidas, everywhere people are following Beloved-of-the-Gods' instructions in Dhamma. Even where Beloved-of-the-Gods' envoys have not been, these people too, having heard of the practice of Dhamma and the ordinances and instructions in Dhamma given by Beloved-of-the-Gods, are following it and will continue to do so. | [[Edicts of Ashoka]], [[Ashoka's Major Rock Edict|Rock Edict]] (S. Dhammika)<ref>[http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/dhammika/wheel386.html#rock14 The Edicts of King Ashoka: an English rendering by Ven. S. Dhammika] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510060618/http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/dhammika/wheel386.html |date=10 May 2016 }}. Access to Insight: Readings in Theravāda Buddhism. Retrieved 1 September 2011.</ref>|source=}} | ||
The distance of 600 [[yojana]]s (> 2,000 km) corresponds roughly to the distance between the center of India and Greece.<ref name=PK/> | |||
In the [[Gandhari language|Gandhari]] original Antiochos is referred to as ''Amtiyoge nama [[Yona]]-raja'' (lit. "The Greek king by the name of Antiokos"), beyond whom live the four other kings: ''param ca tena Atiyogena cature 4 rajani Tulamaye nama Amtekine nama Makā nama Alikasudaro nama'' (lit. "And beyond Antiochus, four kings by the name of Ptolemy, the name of Antigonos, the name of Magas, the name Alexander".{{sfn|Hultzsch|1925|p=[https://archive.org/stream/InscriptionsOfAsoka.NewEditionByE.Hultzsch/HultzschCorpusAsokaSearchable#page/n185/mode/2up 46]}} | |||
* '''Amtiyaka''' ([[wiktionary:𑀅𑀁𑀢𑀺𑀬𑀓#Ashokan Prakrit|𑀅𑀁𑀢𑀺𑀬𑀓]]) or Amtiyoga (𑀅𑀁𑀢𑀺[[File:Brahmi yo 2nd century CE.jpg|10px]]𑀕), refers to [[Antiochus II Theos]] of Syria (261–246 BCE), who controlled the [[Seleucid Empire]] from [[Syria]] to [[Bactria]] in the east from 305 to 250 BCE, and was therefore a direct neighbor of Ashoka.<ref name=PK/><ref name=ME368>Thomas Mc Evilly "The shape of ancient thought", Allworth Press, New York, 2002, p. 368.</ref> | |||
* '''Tulamāya''' ([[wiktionary:𑀢𑀼𑀭𑀫𑀸𑀬#Ashokan Prakrit|𑀢𑀼𑀭𑀫𑀸𑀬]]) refers to [[Ptolemy II of Egypt|Ptolemy II Philadelphos]] of Egypt (285–247 BCE), king of the dynasty founded by [[Ptolemy I of Egypt|Ptolemy I]], a former general of Alexander the Great, in [[Egypt]].<ref name=PK/><ref name=ME368/> | |||
* '''Amtekina''' ([[wiktionary:𑀅𑀁𑀢𑁂𑀓𑀺𑀦#Ashokan Prakrit|𑀅𑀁𑀢𑁂𑀓𑀺𑀦]]) refers to [[Antigonus II Gonatas]] of [[Macedon]] (278–239 BCE).<ref name=PK/><ref name=ME368/> | |||
* '''Makā''' (𑀫𑀓𑀸) refers to [[Magas of Cyrene]] (300–258 BCE).<ref name=PK/><ref name=ME368/> | |||
* '''Alikyaṣadala''' (𑀅𑀁𑀮𑀺[[File:Brahmi Kya.jpg|10px]]𑀱𑀤𑀮) refers to [[Alexander II of Epirus]] (272–258 BCE).<ref name=PK/><ref name=ME368/> | |||
All the kings mentioned in Ashoka's Major Rock Edict No.13 are famous Hellenistic rulers, contemporary of Ashoka:<ref name=PK/><ref>{{cite book |last=Lahiri |first=Nayanjot |title=Ashoka in Ancient India |year=2015 |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=9780674057777 |page=25 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bJ_XCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA25 |language=en |access-date=12 September 2018 |archive-date=2 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230702130829/https://books.google.com/books?id=bJ_XCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA25 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
<gallery> | |||
File:AntiochusIIMET.jpg|Seleucid king [[Antiochus II Theos]] of Syria (261–246 BCE). | |||
Ptolemy II Philadelphos and Arsinoe II.jpg|[[Ptolemy II of Egypt|Ptolemy II Philadelphos]] of Egypt (285–247 BCE) with his sister [[Arsinoe II]]. | |||
File:Antigonus_Gonatas_British_Museum.jpg|[[Antigonus II Gonatas]] of [[Macedon]] (278–239 BCE). | |||
File:King Magas of Cyrene.jpg|[[Magas of Cyrene]] (300–258 BCE). | |||
Image:Arte ellenistica, alessandro d'epiro, agata, 260 ac. ca.JPG|[[Alexander II of Epirus]] (272–258 BCE) on a cameo of agate. | |||
</gallery> | |||
; Emissaries | |||
[[File:Territories conquered by the Dharma according to Ashoka.jpg|thumb|Territories "conquered by the Dharma" according to [[Major Rock Edicts|Major Rock Edict No.13]] of Ashoka (260–232 BCE).<ref name=PK/><ref name=ME368/>]] | |||
It is not clear in Hellenic records whether these emissaries were actually received, or had any influence on the Hellenic world. But the existence of the edicts in a very high-level Greek literary and philosophical language testifies to the high sophistication of the Greek community of Kandahar, and to a true communication between Greek intellectuals and Indian thought.<ref>{{cite book |last=Lahiri |first=Nayanjot |title=Ashoka in Ancient India |year=2015 |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=9780674057777 |page=173 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bJ_XCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA173 |language=en |access-date=12 September 2018 |archive-date=2 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230702130842/https://books.google.com/books?id=bJ_XCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA173 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="DS139">Une nouvelle inscription grecque d'Açoka [article], Schlumberger, Daniel, Comptes rendus des séances de l'Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres Année 1964 [http://www.persee.fr/doc/crai_0065-0536_1964_num_108_1_11695 p. 139] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180604023454/https://www.persee.fr/doc/crai_0065-0536_1964_num_108_1_11695 |date=4 June 2018 }}</ref> According to historian [[Louis Robert (historian)|Louis Robert]], it becomes quite likely that these Kandahar Greeks who were very familiar with Indian culture could in turn transmit Indian ideas to the philosophical circles of the Mediterranean world, in [[Seleucia]], [[Antioch]], [[Alexandria]], [[Pella]] or [[Cyrene, Libya|Cyrene]].<ref name = "DS139"/> He suggests that the famous Ashoka emissaries sent to the Western Hellenistic Courts according to Ashoka's Major Rock Edict No.13 were in fact Greek subjects and citizens of Kandahar, who had the full capacity to carry out these embassies.<ref name="DS139"/> | |||
Another document, the ''[[Mahavamsa]]'' (XII, 1st paragraph),<ref>{{cite web |author=Mahavamsa |title=Chapter XII |url=http://lakdiva.org/mahavamsa/chap012.html |website=lakdiva.org |access-date=11 September 2018 |archive-date=20 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020052522/http://lakdiva.org/mahavamsa/chap012.html |url-status=live }}</ref> also states that in the 17th year of his reign, at the end of the [[Third Buddhist Council]], Ashoka sent Buddhist missionaries to eight parts of Southern Asia and the "country of the Yonas" (Greeks) to propagate Buddhism.<ref name="PJ">{{cite book |last=Jermsawatdi |first=Promsak |year=1979 |title=Thai Art with Indian Influences |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0O9je9dECH8C&pg=PA10 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |pages=10–11 |isbn=9788170170907}}</ref> | |||
It is possible, but not certain, that Ashoka received letters from Greek rulers and was acquainted with the Hellenistic royal orders in the same way as he perhaps knew of the inscriptions of the Achaemenid kings, given the presence of ambassadors of Hellenistic kings in India (as well as the ''dütas'' sent by Ashoka himself).<ref name="Hinuber2012" /> [[Dionysius (ambassador)|Dionysius]] is reported to have been such a Greek ambassador at the court of Ashoka, sent by [[Ptolemy II Philadelphus]],<ref>{{cite web |url = http://perseus.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Plin.+Nat.+6.21 |title = Pliny the Elder, "The Natural History", 6, 21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728023626/http://perseus.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Plin.+Nat.+6.21 |archive-date=28 July 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> who himself is mentioned in the [[Edicts of Ashoka]] as a recipient of the Buddhist proselytism of Ashoka. Some Hellenistic philosophers, such as [[Hegesias of Cyrene]], who probably lived under the rule of King [[Magas of Cyrene|Magas]], one of the supposed recipients of Buddhist emissaries from Asoka, are sometimes thought to have been influenced by Buddhist teachings.<ref>{{cite book |last=Preus |first=Anthony |year=2015 |title=Historical Dictionary of Ancient Greek Philosophy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wjW_BgAAQBAJ&pg=PA184 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |page=184 |isbn=978-1-4422-4639-3 |access-date=18 June 2017 |archive-date=4 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104102717/https://books.google.com/books?id=wjW_BgAAQBAJ&pg=PA184 |url-status=live }}</ref> | It is possible, but not certain, that Ashoka received letters from Greek rulers and was acquainted with the Hellenistic royal orders in the same way as he perhaps knew of the inscriptions of the Achaemenid kings, given the presence of ambassadors of Hellenistic kings in India (as well as the ''dütas'' sent by Ashoka himself).<ref name="Hinuber2012" /> [[Dionysius (ambassador)|Dionysius]] is reported to have been such a Greek ambassador at the court of Ashoka, sent by [[Ptolemy II Philadelphus]],<ref>{{cite web |url = http://perseus.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Plin.+Nat.+6.21 |title = Pliny the Elder, "The Natural History", 6, 21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728023626/http://perseus.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Plin.+Nat.+6.21 |archive-date=28 July 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> who himself is mentioned in the [[Edicts of Ashoka]] as a recipient of the Buddhist proselytism of Ashoka. Some Hellenistic philosophers, such as [[Hegesias of Cyrene]], who probably lived under the rule of King [[Magas of Cyrene|Magas]], one of the supposed recipients of Buddhist emissaries from Asoka, are sometimes thought to have been influenced by Buddhist teachings.<ref>{{cite book |last=Preus |first=Anthony |year=2015 |title=Historical Dictionary of Ancient Greek Philosophy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wjW_BgAAQBAJ&pg=PA184 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |page=184 |isbn=978-1-4422-4639-3 |access-date=18 June 2017 |archive-date=4 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104102717/https://books.google.com/books?id=wjW_BgAAQBAJ&pg=PA184 |url-status=live }}</ref> | ||
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| publisher =Thames & Hudson | | publisher =Thames & Hudson | ||
}}</ref><ref name="emmerick 263"/> According to one version, the nobles of a tribe in [[Taxila (ancient)|ancient Taxila]], who traced their ancestry to the deity [[Vaiśravaṇa]], were said to have blinded [[Kunala|Kunãla]], a son of [[Ashoka]]. In punishment they were banished by the [[Maurya Empire|Mauryan emperor]] to the north of the Himalayas, where they settled in Khotan and elected one of their members as king. However war then ensued with another group from China whose leader then took over as king, and the two colonies merged.<ref name="Mallory 2000"/> In a different version, it was Kunãla himself who was exiled and founded Khotan.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8XXGhAL1WKcC&pg=PA193 |title=The Early History of India|first= Vincent A. |last= Smith | page=193 |publisher= Atlantic Publishers |date= 1999|isbn=978-81-7156-618-1}}</ref> | }}</ref><ref name="emmerick 263"/> According to one version, the nobles of a tribe in [[Taxila (ancient)|ancient Taxila]], who traced their ancestry to the deity [[Vaiśravaṇa]], were said to have blinded [[Kunala|Kunãla]], a son of [[Ashoka]]. In punishment they were banished by the [[Maurya Empire|Mauryan emperor]] to the north of the Himalayas, where they settled in Khotan and elected one of their members as king. However war then ensued with another group from China whose leader then took over as king, and the two colonies merged.<ref name="Mallory 2000"/> In a different version, it was Kunãla himself who was exiled and founded Khotan.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8XXGhAL1WKcC&pg=PA193 |title=The Early History of India|first= Vincent A. |last= Smith | page=193 |publisher= Atlantic Publishers |date= 1999|isbn=978-81-7156-618-1}}</ref> | ||
==Legends about past lives== | ==Legends about past lives== | ||
Buddhist legends mention stories about Ashoka's past lives. According to a ''Mahavamsa'' story, Ashoka, Nigrodha and Devnampiya Tissa were brothers in a previous life. In that life, a [[pratyekabuddha]] was looking for honey to cure another, sick pratyekabuddha. A woman directed him to a honey shop owned by the three brothers. Ashoka generously donated honey to the pratyekabuddha, and wished to become the sovereign ruler of Jambudvipa for this act of merit.{{sfn|Strong|1995|p=146}} The woman wished to become his queen, and was reborn as Ashoka's wife Asandhamitta.{{sfn|Strong|1995|pp=146–147}} Later Pali texts credit her with an additional act of merit: she gifted the pratyekabuddha a piece of cloth made by her. These texts include the ''Dasavatthuppakarana'', the so-called Cambodian or Extended ''Mahavamsa'' (possibly from 9th–10th centuries), and the ''Trai Bhumi Katha'' (15th century).{{sfn|Strong|1995|p=166}} | Buddhist legends mention stories about Ashoka's past lives. According to a ''Mahavamsa'' story, Ashoka, Nigrodha and Devnampiya Tissa were brothers in a previous life. In that life, a [[pratyekabuddha]] was looking for honey to cure another, sick pratyekabuddha. A woman directed him to a honey shop owned by the three brothers. Ashoka generously donated honey to the pratyekabuddha, and wished to become the sovereign ruler of Jambudvipa for this act of merit.{{sfn|Strong|1995|p=146}} The woman wished to become his queen, and was reborn as Ashoka's wife Asandhamitta.{{sfn|Strong|1995|pp=146–147}} Later Pali texts credit her with an additional act of merit: she gifted the pratyekabuddha a piece of cloth made by her. These texts include the ''Dasavatthuppakarana'', the so-called Cambodian or Extended ''Mahavamsa'' (possibly from 9th–10th centuries), and the ''Trai Bhumi Katha'' (15th century).{{sfn|Strong|1995|p=166}} | ||