1. ashoka tua adalah sosok bijaksana seperti disebut dalam bait berikut ini,
inklusif dan memimpin masyarakat pluralis.
Later scholars have tended to question this assessment. The only source of
information not attributable to Buddhist sources – the Ashokan edicts – make
only a few references to Buddhism directly, despite many references to the
concept of dhamma <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhamma> (Sanskrit:
dharma<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharma>).
Some interpreters have seen this as an indication that Ashoka was attempting
to craft an inclusive, poly-religious civil religion for his empire that was
centered on the concept of *dharma* as a positive moral force, but which did
not embrace or advocate any particular philosophy attributable to the
religious movements of Ashoka's age
2. asoka muda adalah sosok penuh darah, kendati saat itu dia sudah mengenal
budhisme.
A clique of ministers lead by Radhagupta, who hated Susima, summoned Ashoka
to take the crown, though Bindusara preferred Susima. As the Buddhist lore
goes, in a fit of rage, Prince Ashoka attacked
Pataliputra<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pataliputra>(modern day
Patna <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patna>), and killed all his brothers,
including Susima, and threw their bodies in a well in Pataliputra. It is not
known if Bindusara was already dead at this time. At that stage of his life,
many called him *Chanda Ashoka* meaning murderer and heartless
Ashoka.TheBuddhist legends paint a gory picture of his sadistic
activities at this
time. Most are incredible, and must be read as supporting background to
highlight the transformation Buddhism brought about later. Ascending the
throne, Ashoka expanded his empire over the next eight years, expanding it
from the present-day boundaries of
Bangladesh<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladesh>and the state of
Assam <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assam> in India in the east to the
territory of present-day Iran <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran> and
Afghanistan <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan> in the west; from the
Pamir Knots<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pamir_Knots&action="">>in
the north to the almost peninsular part of southern
India <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_India>
*Ashoka the Great*
(Devanagari<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devanagari_language>:
अशोक; IAST transliteration <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IAST>: *Aśoka*).
(Born 304 BC <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/304_BC>- Died 232
BC<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/232_BC>).
He was the emperor of the Maurya
Empire<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurya_Empire>from 273
BC <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/273_BC> to 232
BC<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/232_BC>.
After a number of military conquests, Ashoka reigned over most of
South Asia<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Asia>and beyond, from
present-day
Afghanistan <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan> to
Bengal<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengal>and as far south as
Mysore <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mysore>. A convert to
Buddhism<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism>,
Ashoka established monuments marking several significant sites in the life
of Shakyamuni Buddha <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakyamuni_Buddha>, and
according to Buddhist tradition was closely involved in the preservation and
transmission of Buddhism.
The name "Ashoka" means "without sorrow" in
Sanskrit<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit>.
In his edicts he is referred to as "Devaanaampriya" or "The Beloved Of The
Gods".
H.G. Wells <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.G._Wells> wrote of Ashoka: *"In
the history of the world there have been thousands of kings and emperors who
called themselves 'their highnesses,' 'their majesties,' and 'their exalted
majesties' and so on. They shone for a brief moment, and as quickly
disappeared. But Ashoka shines and shines brightly like a bright star, even
unto this day."*
Early life
Ashoka was the son of the Maurya <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurya>Emperor
Bindusara <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bindusara> by a relatively lower
ranked queen named Dharma. Dharma was said to be the daughter of a poor
Brahmin who introduced her into the harem of the Emperor as it was predicted
that her son would be a great ruler. Although Dharma was of priestly
lineage, the fact that she was not royal by birth made her a very low-status
consort in the harem.
Ashoka had several elder half-brothers and just one younger sibling,
Vitthashoka, another son of Dharma. The princes were extremely competitive,
but young Ashoka excelled in the military and academic disciplines the boys
were tutored in. There was a great deal of sibling rivalry, especially
between Ashoka and his brother Susima. These rivalries followed the princes
to their adulthood, where Ashoka proved superior to his brothers both as a
warrior and an administrator.
[edit<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ashoka&action="">>
]
Rise to power
Developing into an impeccable warrior general and a shrewd statesman, Ashoka
went on to command several regiments
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regiment>of the Mauryan army. His
growing popularity across the empire made his elder
brothers wary of his chances of being favoured by
Bindusara<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bindusara>to become the next
emperor. The eldest of them, Prince
Susima <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Susima&action="">>, the
traditional heir to the throne, persuaded Bindusara to send Ashoka to quell
an uprising in the city of
Takshashila<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takshashila>in the north-west
province of
Sindh <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sindh>, of which Prince Susima was the
governor. Takshashila was a highly volatile place because of the war-like
Indo-Greek <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Greek> population and
mismanagement by Susima himself. This had led to the formation of different
militias <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Militia> causing unrest. Ashoka
complied and left for the troubled area. As news of Ashoka's visit with his
army trickled in, he was welcomed by the revolting militias and the uprising
ended without a fight. (The province revolted once more during the rule of
Ashoka, but this time the uprising was crushed with an iron fist).
Ashoka's success made his half-brothers more wary of his intentions of
becoming the emperor, and more incitements from Susima led Bindusara to send
Ashoka into exile. He went into
Kalinga<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orissa>and stayed incognito
there. There he met a fisherwoman named
Kaurwaki <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaurwaki>, with whom he fell in love;
recently found inscriptions indicate that she went on to become his second
or third queen.
Meanwhile, there was again a violent uprising in
Ujjain<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ujjain>.
Emperor Bindusara summoned Ashoka back after an exile of two years. Ashoka
went into Ujjain and in the ensuing battle was injured, but his generals
quelled the uprising. Ashoka was treated in hiding so that loyalists in
Susima's camp could not harm him. He was treated by Buddhist monks and nuns.
This is where he first learned the teachings of the
Buddha<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama_Buddha>,
and it is also where he met the beautiful Devi, who was his personal nurse
and the daughter of a merchant from adjacent
Vidisha<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vidisha>.
After recovering, he married her. Ashoka, at this time, was already married
to Asandhimitra who was to be his much loved chief queen for many years till
her death. She seems to have stayed on in Pataliputra all her life.
The following year passed quite peacefully for him and Devi was about to
deliver his first child. In the meantime, Emperor Bindusara took ill and was
on his death bed. A clique of ministers lead by Radhagupta, who hated
Susima, summoned Ashoka to take the crown, though Bindusara preferred
Susima. As the Buddhist lore goes, in a fit of rage, Prince Ashoka attacked
Pataliputra <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pataliputra> (modern day
Patna<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patna>),
and killed all his brothers, including Susima, and threw their bodies in a
well in Pataliputra. It is not known if Bindusara was already dead at this
time. At that stage of his life, many called him *Chanda Ashoka* meaning
murderer and heartless Ashoka.The Buddhist legends paint a gory picture of
his sadistic activities at this time. Most are incredible, and must be read
as supporting background to highlight the transformation Buddhism brought
about later.
Ascending the throne, Ashoka expanded his empire over the next eight years,
expanding it from the present-day boundaries of
Bangladesh<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladesh>and the state of
Assam <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assam> in India in the east to the
territory of present-day Iran <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran> and
Afghanistan <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan> in the west; from the
Pamir Knots<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pamir_Knots&action="">>in
the north to the almost peninsular part of southern
India <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_India>. At that stage of his
life, he was called *Chakravarti* which literally translates to "he for whom
the wheel of law turns" (broadly meaning the emperor). Around this time, his
Buddhist queen Devi gave birth to two children, Prince Mahindra and Princess
Sanghamitra.
[edit<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ashoka&action="">>
]
Conquest of Kalinga [image: After the battle of Kalinga, Ashoka ruled most
of the Indian subcontinent]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Ashokan_empire.gif>
[image:
Enlarge] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Ashokan_empire.gif>
After the battle of Kalinga, Ashoka ruled most of the Indian subcontinent
The early part of Ashoka's reign was apparently quite bloodthirsty. Ashoka
was constantly on the war campaign, conquering territory after territory and
significantly expanding the already large Mauryan empire and adding to his
wealth. His last conquest was the state of Kalinga on the east coast of
India in the present-day state of Orissa<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orissa>.
Kalinga prided itself on its
sovereignty<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereignty>and
democracy <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy>; with its
monarchical-parliamentary democracy, it was quite an exception in ancient
Bharata, as there existed the concept of
Rajdharma<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rajdharma&action="">>,
meaning the duty of the rulers, which was intrinsically entwined with the
concept of bravery and Kshatriya
dharma<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kshatriya_dharma>
.
The pretext for the start of the Kalinga
War<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalinga_War>(265
BC <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/265_BC> or 263
BC<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/263_BC>)
is uncertain. One of Ashoka's brothers - and probably a supporter of Susima
- might have fled to Kalinga and found official refuge there. This enraged
Ashoka immensely. He was advised by his ministers to attack Kalinga for this
act of treachery. Ashoka then asked Kalinga's royalty to submit before his
supremacy. When they defied this *diktat<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diktat>
*, Ashoka sent one of his generals to Kalinga to make them submit.
The general and his forces were, however, completely routed through the
skilled tactics of Kalinga's commander-in-chief. Ashoka, baffled by this
defeat, attacked with the greatest invasion ever recorded in Indian history
until then. Kalinga put up a stiff resistance, but they were no match for
Ashoka's powerful armies, superior weapons and experienced generals and
soldiers. The whole of Kalinga was plundered and destroyed: Ashoka's later
edicts say that about 100,000 people were killed on the Kalinga side and
10,000 from Ashoka's army; thousands of men and women were deported.
[edit<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ashoka&action="">>
]
Embrace of Buddhism
As the legend goes, one day after the war was over Ashoka ventured out to
roam the eastern city and all he could see were burnt houses and scattered
corpses. This sight made him sick and he cried the famous quotation, "What
have I done?" The brutality of the conquest led him to adopt
Buddhism<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism>and he used his
position to propagate the relatively new philosophy to new
heights, as far as ancient Rome <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rome> and
Egypt <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt>.
As legend goes, there was also another factor that lead Ashoka to Buddhism.
A Mauryan princess who had been married to one of Ashoka's brothers (who
Ashoka executed) fled her palace with a maid, fearing for her unborn child.
After much travel, the pregnant princess collapsed under a tree in the
forest, and the maid ran to a nearby
ashram<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashram>to fetch a priest or
physician to help. Meanwhile, under the tree, the
princess gave birth to a son. The young prince was brought up by the
Brahmins of the ashram and educated by them. Later, when he was around
thirteen years old, he caught the eye of Ashoka, who was surprised to see
such a young boy dressed as a sage. When the boy calmly revealed who he was,
it seemed that Ashoka was moved by guilt and compassion, and moved the boy
and his mother into the palace.
Meanwhile Queen Devi, who was a Buddhist, had brought up her children in
that faith, and apparently left Ashoka after she saw the horrors of Kalinga.
Ashoka was grieved by this, and was counselled by his nephew (who had been
raised in the ashram and was more priest than prince) to embrace his dharma
and draw away from war. Prince
Mahindra<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahinda>and Princess
Sanghamitra <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanghamitra>, the children of
Queen Devi, abhorred violence and bloodshed, but knew that as royals war
would be a part of their lives. They therefore asked Ashoka for permission
to join the Buddhist monks, which Ashoka reluctantly granted. The two
siblings established Buddhism in
Ceylon<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceylon>(now Sri
Lanka <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lanka>).
>From that point Ashoka, who had been described as "the cruel Ashoka" (*
Chandashoka*), started to be described as "the pious Ashoka" (*Dharmashoka*).
He propagated the Vibhajjvada school of Buddhism and preached it within his
domain and worldwide from about 250 BC <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/250_BC>.
Emperor Ashoka undoubtedly has to be credited with the first serious attempt
to develop a Buddhist policy <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Policy>.
[image: Silver punch-mark coins of the Mauryan empire, bear Buddhist
symbols such as the dharma wheel, the elephant (previous form of the
Buddha), the tree under which enlightenment happened, and the burial mound
where the Buddha died (obverse). 3rd century
BC.]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:MauryanCoin.JPG> [image:
Enlarge] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:MauryanCoin.JPG>
Silver punch-mark coins of the *Mauryan empire*, bear Buddhist symbols such
as the dharma wheel <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharma_wheel>, the
elephant (previous form of the Buddha), the tree under which enlightenment
happened, and the burial mound where the Buddha died (obverse). 3rd century
BC <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3rd_century_BC>.
Emperor Ashoka built thousands of Stupas<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stupa>and
Viharas <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vihara> for Buddhist followers. The
Stupas of Sanchi <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanchi> are world famous and
the stupa named Sanchi Stupa 1 was built by Emperor Ashoka. During the
remaining portion of Ashoka's reign, he pursued an official policy of
nonviolence <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonviolence> or
ahimsa<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahimsa>.
Even the unnecessary slaughter or mutilation of animals was immediately
abolished. Wildlife <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife> became protected
by the king's law against sport <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport>
hunting<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunting>and
branding <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branding>. Limited hunting was
permitted for consumption reasons but Ashoka also promoted the concept of
vegetarianism <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetarianism>. Enormous
resthouses were built through the empire to house travellers and pilgrims
free of charge. Ashoka also showed mercy to those imprisoned, allowing them
outside one day each year. He attempted to raise the professional ambition
of the common man by building
universities<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University>for study and
water transit and
irrigation <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irrigation> systems for
trade<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade>and
agriculture <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agriculture>. He treated his
subjects as equals regardless of their religion, politics and
caste<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste>.
The weaker kingdoms surrounding his, which could so easily be overthrown,
were instead made to be well-respected allies. In all these respects, Ashoka
far exceeded even modern-day world leaders.
He is acclaimed for constructing
hospitals<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hospital>for animals and people
alike, and renovating major roads throughout
India <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India>. Dharmashoka defined the main
principles of *dharma* (*dhamma* in
Pāli<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C4%81li>)
as nonviolence, tolerance <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tolerance> of all
sects <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sect> and opinions,
obedience<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obedience>to parents,
respect <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Respect> for the
Brahmans<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahman>and other religious
teachers and
priests <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priest>,
liberal<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal>towards friends, humane
treatment of
servants <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Servant_%28domestic%29>, and
generosity <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generosity> towards all. These
principles suggest a general ethic of behavior to which no religious or
social group could object.
[image: Bilingual edict (Greek and Aramaic) by king Ashoka, from Kandahar.
Kabul Museum.] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:AsokaKandahar.jpg> [image:
Enlarge] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:AsokaKandahar.jpg>
Bilingual edict (Greek <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_language> and
Aramaic <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aramaic>) by king Ashoka, from
Kandahar <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kandahar>.
Kabul<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabul>Museum.
Some critics say that Ashoka was afraid of more wars, but among his
neighbors, including the Seleucid
Empire<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seleucid_Empire>and the
Greco-Bactrian <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Bactrian> kingdom
established by Diodotus I <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diodotus_I>, none
could match his strength. He was a contemporary of both Antiochus I
Soter<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiochus_I_Soter>and his successor
Antiochus
II Theos <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiochus_II_Theos> of the Seleucid
dynasty <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seleucid_dynasty> as well as Diodotus
I and his son Diodotus II <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diodotus_II> of the
Greco-Bactrian kingdom. If his
inscriptions<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inscription>and
edicts <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edict> are well studied, one finds that
he was familiar with the Hellenistic
world<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenistic_world>but never in awe
of it. The Edicts
of Ashoka <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edicts_of_Ashoka>, which talk of
friendly relations, give the names of both Antiochus of the Seleucid empire
and Ptolemy III <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ptolemy_III> of
Egypt<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt>.
But the fame of the Mauryan empire was widespread from the time that
Ashoka's grandfather Chandragupta
Maurya<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandragupta_Maurya>defeated
Seleucus
Nicator <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seleucus_I_Nicator>, the founder of
the Seleucid Dynasty <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seleucid_Dynasty>.
The Ashoka Pillar <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pillars_of_Ashoka> at
Sarnath <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarnath> is the most popular of the
relics left by Ashoka. Made of
sandstone<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandstone>,
this pillar records the visit of the emperor to Sarnath, in the 3rd century
BC <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3rd_century_BC>. It has a four-lion
capital<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion_Capital_of_Asoka>(four lions
standing back to back) which was adopted as the
emblem <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_emblem> of the modern Indian
republic. The lion symbolises both Ashoka's imperial rule and the kingship
of the Buddha. In translating these monuments, historians learn the bulk of
what is assumed to have been true fact of the Maurya Empire. It is difficult
to determine whether certain events ever happened, but the stone etchings
depict clearly of how Ashoka wanted to be thought and how he wanted to be
remembered.
Ashoka's own words as known from his Edicts are: "All men are my children. I
am like a father to them. As every father desires the good and the happiness
of his children, I wish that all men should be happy always." Edward D'Cruz
interprets the Ashokan *dharma* as a "religion to be used as a symbol of a
new imperial unity and a cementing force to weld the diverse and
heterogeneous elements of the empire".
[edit<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ashoka&action="">>
]
Historical sources [image: A modern Indian movie on
Ashoka.]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:AsokaMovie.jpg> [image:
Enlarge] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:AsokaMovie.jpg>
A modern Indian movie on Ashoka.
Information about the life and reign of Ashoka primarily comes from a
relatively small number of Buddhist sources. In particular, the
Sanskrit<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanskrit>
*Ashoka Avadana <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avadana>* ('Story of Ashoka')
and the two Pāli <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C4%81li> chronicles of Sri
Lanka <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lanka> (the
Dipavamsa<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dipavamsa>and
Mahavamsa <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahavamsa>) provide most of the
currently known information about Asoka. Additional information is
contributed by the Edicts of
Asoka<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edicts_of_Asoka>,
whose authorship was finally attributed to the Ashoka of Buddhist legend
after the discovery of dynastic lists that gave the name used in the edicts
(*Priyadarsi* – meaning 'good looking', or 'favored by the Gods') as a title
or additional name of Ashoka Mauriya.
The use of Buddhist sources in reconstructing the life of Ashoka has had a
strong influence on perceptions of Ashoka, and the interpretations of his
edicts. Building on traditional accounts, early scholars regarded Ashoka as
a primarily Buddhist monarch who underwent a conversion to Buddhism and was
actively engaged in sponsoring and supporting the Buddhist monastic
institution.
Later scholars have tended to question this assessment. The only source of
information not attributable to Buddhist sources – the Ashokan edicts – make
only a few references to Buddhism directly, despite many references to the
concept of dhamma <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhamma> (Sanskrit:
dharma<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharma>).
Some interpreters have seen this as an indication that Ashoka was attempting
to craft an inclusive, poly-religious civil religion for his empire that was
centered on the concept of *dharma* as a positive moral force, but which did
not embrace or advocate any particular philosophy attributable to the
religious movements of Ashoka's age (such as the
Jains<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jain>,
Buddhists, orthodox Brahmanists <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmanism>,
and Ajivikas <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajivika>).
Most likely, the complex religious environment of the age would have
required careful diplomatic management in order to avoid provoking religious
unrest. Modern scholars and adherants of the traditional Buddhist
perspective both tend to agree that Ashoka's rule was marked by tolerance
towards a number of religious faiths.
*See also*: Edicts of Ashoka <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edicts_of_Ashoka>
[edit<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ashoka&action="">>
]
Death and legacy [image: Ashoka's first rock inscription at
Girnar]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Asoka1.gif> [image:
Enlarge] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Asoka1.gif>
Ashoka's first rock inscription at Girnar<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girnar>
Ashoka ruled for an estimated forty years, and after his death, the Maurya
dynasty lasted just fifty more years. Ashoka had many wives and children,
but their names are lost to time.
Mahindra<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahindra>and
Sanghamitra <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanghamitra> were twins born by
his fourth wife, Devi <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devi>, in the city of
Ujjain <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ujjain>. He had entrusted to them the
job of making his state religion, Buddhism, more popular across the known
and the unknown world. Mahindra <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahindra> and
Sanghamitra <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanghamitra> went into Sri
Lanka<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lanka>and converted the King,
the Queen and their people to Buddhism. So they were
naturally not the ones handling state affairs after him. In his old age, he
seems to have come under the spell of his youngest wife
Tishyaraksha<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tishyaraksha&action="">>.
It is said that she had got his son Kunal<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kunal>,
the regent in Takshashila <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takshashila>,
blinded by a wily stratagem <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratagem>. But
the official executioners spared Kunal and he became a wandering singer
accompanied by his favourite wife
Kanchanmala<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kanchanmala&action="">>.
In Pataliputra <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pataliputra>, Ashoka hears
Kunal's song, and realizes that Kunal's misfortune may have been a
punishment for some past sin of the emperor himself and condemns
Tishyaraksha to death, restoring Kunal to the court. Kunal was succeded by
his son, Samprati <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samprati>. But his rule did
not last long after Ashoka's death.
[image: The Emblem of India is a replica of Ashoka
Pillar]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:AshokaCapital.jpg> [image:
Enlarge] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:AshokaCapital.jpg>
The Emblem of India <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emblem_of_India> is a
replica of Ashoka Pillar <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashoka_Pillar>
The reign of Ashoka Maurya could easily have disappeared into history as the
ages passed by, and would have, if he had not left behind a record of his
trials. The testimony of this wise king was discovered in the form of
magnificently sculpted pillars and boulders with a variety of actions and
teachings he wished to be published etched into the stone. What Ashoka left
behind was the first written language in India since the ancient city of
Harappa <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harappa>. Rather than Sanskrit, the
language used for inscription was the current spoken form called
Prakrit<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prakrit>
.
In the year 185 BC <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/185_BC>, about fifty years
after Ashoka's death, the last Maurya ruler,
Brhadrata<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brhadrata>,
was brutally murdered by the commander-in-chief of the Mauryan armed forces,
Pusyamitra Sunga <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pusyamitra_Sunga>, while he
was taking the Guard of Honor of his forces. Pusyamitra Sunga founded the Sunga
dynasty <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunga_dynasty> (185
BC<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/185_BC>
-78 BC <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/78_BC>) and ruled just a fragmented
part of the Mauryan Empire.
Not until some 2,000 years later under Akbar the
Great<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akbar>and his great-grandson
Aurangzeb <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurangzeb> would as large a portion
of the subcontinent <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subcontinent> as that
ruled by Ashoka again be united under a single ruler. When India gained
independence from the British
Empire<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Empire>it adopted Ashoka's
emblem for its own, placing the dharma
wheel <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharma_wheel>(The Wheel of Rightious
Duty) that crowned his many columns on the
flag<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_India>of the newly
independent state.
Ashoka was ranked #53 on Michael H.
Hart<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_H._Hart>'s
list of the most influential figures in
history<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_100>
.
A semi-fictionalized portrayal of Ashoka's life was produced as a motion
picture recently under the title
Asoka<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asoka_%28film%29>
.
[edit<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ashoka&action="">>
]
Ashoka and Buddhist Kingship
One of the more enduring legacies of Ashoka Maurya was the model that he
provided for the relationship between Buddhism and the state. Throughout
Theravada Southeastbrat Asia, the model of rulership embodied by Ashoka
replaced the Brahmanist notion of divine kingship that had previously
dominated (in the Angkor <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angkor> kingdom, for
instance). Under this model of 'Buddhist kingship', the king sought to
legitimize his rule not through descent from a divine source, but by
supporting and earning the approval of the Buddhist
*sangha<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sangha>
*. Following Ashoka's example, kings established monasteries, funded the
construction of stupas, and supported the ordination of monks in their
kingdom. Many rulers also took an active role in resolving disputes over the
status and regulation of the sangha, as Ashoka had in calling a conclave to
settle a number of contentious issues during his reign. This development
ultimately lead to a close association in many Southeast Asian countries
between the monarchy and the religious hierarchy, an association that can
still be seen today in the state-supported Buddhism of
Thailand<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism_in_Thailand>and the
traditional role of the Thai king as both a religious and secular
leader.
Ashoka also said that all his courtiers were true to their self and governed
the people in a moral manner
*
*
On 4/22/06, RM Danardono HADINOTO <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> --- In [email protected], aris solikhah <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> wrote:
> >
>
> >-------------deeleted-----------
> > Nasib yang sangat mengenaskan. Dan aris juga memahami ketika
> bagian bab dari gelap menuju terang berasal dari Isnpirasi sebuah
> ayat Al Quran. Maka orientasi dan spirit perjuang Kartini telah
> sedikit banyak terpengaruhi Al Quran. sayang sekali Kartini tak
> mendapatkan seluruh terjemahan Al Quran. Bagian pengaturan busana
> muslimah ada di Surat An Nur dan Al Ahzab, sayang sekali, Kartini
> belum membacanya. Wajar Beliau belum memakai busana Muslimah
> --------------deleted---------------
> >
> > salam,
> > aris
> >
>
> DH: Mbak Aris, mas Dewanto benar.
>
> Saya telah membaca buku Habis Gelap dalam text asli dalam bahasa
> Belanda. Saya ikuti sejarah kehidupan keluarga beliau, yang masih
> ada kaitan dengan keluarga besar kami, dari garis adipati adipati
> Jawa utara (Japara, Rembang, Tuban, Kudus). Sampai kini, kalau ke
> Jawa, saya nyekar ke makam beliau dan makam kakak laki laki beliau,
> Gusti Sosro Kartono (Ayah eyang saya adalah adipati Blora).
>
> Dalam tradisi kaum ningrat Jawa, pakaian wanita adalah pakaian Jawa,
> lengkap dengan cara aturan busana yang sudah ditetapkan. Jadi tak
> mungkin, ningrat Jawa, apalagi kala itu, berbusana Islam.
>
> Dalam tulisan dibawah, jelas, aoa yang beliau pikir. Way of life
> beliau. Mengabdi. Dalam bidang spiritual, kalangan ningrat Jawa kala
> itu sangat kental budaya kejawaan yang berlatarbelakang Hindu Buddha.
>
> Beliau juga berpendapat yang sama, dengan apa yang saya sering
> tuliskan, tugas manusia adalah memanusiakan manusia (dengan kata
> kata beliau "Tugas manusia adalah menjadi manusia " ( Multatuli via
> Panggil Aku Kartini Saja ). . Ini inti ajaran dharma dari Siddharta.
>
>
> Ikutilah tulisan ini.
>
> ***** " Tugas manusia adalah menjadi manusia " ( Multatuli via
> Panggil Aku Kartini Saja )
>
> Culikan isi Buku :
>
> Pramudya Ananta Toer, " Panggil aku Kartini Saja " ; halaman 145-146
>
>
> Sejarah barat yang dipelajari Kartini sudah pasti memberikan kesan
> kepadanya betapa beda penulisannya daripada babad – babad yang
> pernah dikenalnya di dalam sastra Jawa. Dari sejarah Barat ini ia
> melihat bagaimana kemajuan itu berjalan setindak demi setindak
> seperti orang membuat gedung yang memasang batu demi batu, dari
> renaissance sampai timbulnya pemikiran – pemikiran baru
> di lapangan keagamaan Nasrani, yang mengakibatkan terjadinya
> pepeperangan – peperangan agama yang terjadi beberapa generasi di
> Eropa.
>
> Kartini pun pernah menyatakan pendapatnya – suatu hal yang
> membuktikannya ia memperhatikan sejarah Eropa dan perkembangannya.
>
>
> *Agama dimaksud sebagai karunia bagi umat manusia, untuk mengadakan
> ikatan antara makhul makhul Tuhan. Kita semua adalah saudara, bukan
> karena kita mempunyai satu leluhur, yaitu leluhur manusia, tapi kita
> semua adalah anak – anak dari satu Bapa,dari Dia, yang bertaktah di
> langit sana. Duh, Tuhan, kadang aku ingin, hendaknya tak ada satupun
> agama di atas dunia ini yang berperang. Karena agama – agama ini,
> yang justru harus persatukan semua orang, sepanjang abad
> – abad yang telah lewat menjadi biang-keladi peperangan dan
> perpecahan, dari drama- drama pembunuhan yang paling kejam. Orang –
> orang dari orang tua yang sama berdiri berhadap-hadapan, karena cara
> mereka beribadah kepada Tuhan yang sama berbeda.
>
> Orang – orang yang hati mereka terikat dengan kasih sayang yang
> mesra, berpaling satu daripada yang lain membawa kecewa.
> Perbedaan gereja di mana Tuhan yang sama itu dipanggil, telah
> menjadi tembok pemisah bagi kedua belah pihak, tembok pemisah yang
> mendebarkan jantung mereka.*
>
> *Benarkah agama menjadi karunia bagi umat manusia? Sering pertanyaan
> ini timbul dari hatiku yang ragu. Agama yang seharusnya melindungi
> kita dari dosa ini, berapa saja kejahatan yang orang telah lakukan
> atasa namaMu!*
>
>
> Surat, 6 November 1899, kepada Estelle Zeehandelar
>
> `****
>
> Kita sendiri dapat menjawab pertanyaan ini bukan? Ribuan tahun sejak
> nabi nabi wafat, agama agama saling serang. Kecuali agama Buddha,
> yang tak pernah mengakibatkan manusia mengangkat pedang.
>
> Salam
>
> danardono
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ***************************************************************************
> Berdikusi dg Santun & Elegan, dg Semangat Persahabatan. Menuju Indonesia
> yg Lebih Baik, in Commonality & Shared Destiny.
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>
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