Asoka: 3rd century king of India's Mauryan Dynasty who converted to Buddhism and helped its advance.

 (See also: Asoka, Eastern Philosophy, Body Mind and Soul)

Asoka The name of two celebrated kings of the Maurya dynasty of Magadha. According to the chronicles of Northern Buddhism there were two Asokas: King Chandragupta, named by Max Muller the Constantine of India, and his grandson King Asoka. King Chandragupta was called Piyadasi (beloved of us, benignant), Devanam-piya (beloved of the gods), and Kalasoka (the Asoka who has come in time). His grandson received the name of Dharmasoka (the asoka of the Good Law) because of his devotion to Buddhism, his zealous support of it and its spreading.

The second Asoka had never followed the Brahmanical faith, but was a Buddhist born. It was his grandfather who had been converted to the new teaching, after which he had a number of edicts inscribed on pillars and rocks, a custom followed also by his grandson; but it was the second Asoka who was the more zealous supporter of Buddhism. He is said to have maintained in his palace from 60,000 to 70,000 monks and priests, and erected 84,000 topes or stupas throughout the world.

The inscriptions of various edicts published by him display most noble ethical sentiments, especially the edict found at Allahabad on the so-called Asoka's column in the Fort.

(See also: Asoka, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

asoka:

asoka (ashoka) tree. Tree of moderate size belonging to the leguminous class, with magnificent red flowers.

(See also: asoka, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Asoka is a 2001 Bollywood film, a historical drama. It is a largely fictional version of the life of an Indian king who ruled much of northern India from 273 BCE to 232 BCE. The film was directed by Santosh Sivan and stars Shah Rukh Khan as Ashoka and Kareena Kapoor as Kaurwaki, a princess of Kalinga. Tamil star Ajith made a special appearance as Susima, brother of Asoka. The screenplay was written by Santosh Sivan and Saket Chaudhary and the dialogue by Abbas Tyrewala. It was originally released as Ashoka The Great in Indi ...

Including:

• Asoka film - Plot Synopsis
• Asoka film - Trivia

Read more here: » Asoka film: Encyclopedia - Asoka film

Buddhism after the Buddha

Buddhism spread slowly in India until the powerful Mauryan emperor Asoka converted to it and actively supported it. His promotion led to construction of Buddhist religious sites and missionary efforts that spread the faith into the countries listed at the beginning of the article.

Read more here: » Buddhism: Buddhism after the Buddha

The Rev. Dr. Walpola Rahula is a scholar monk who trained and educated in the Theravadan tradition in Ceylon (Sri Lanka). His succinct, clear overview of Buddhist concepts has never been surpassed. It is the standard. He held eminent positions in one of the leading monastic institutes (Pirivena) in Ceylon, where the Law of the Buddha florishes from the time of Asoka and has preserved all its vitality up to this day. He entered the Ceylon University, obtained the B.A. Honours degree (London), and then won the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of the Ceylon University on a higherly ...

Including:

• Walpola Rahula - Bibliography

Read more here: » Walpola Rahula: Encyclopedia - Walpola Rahula

The national emblem of India is an adaptation of the Buddhist Lion Capital of Asoka at Sarnath, near Banaras in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It has been taken from the stupa at Sanchi. It has four lions, resting on a circular abacus. The fourth lion is on the rear and hence hidden from view. The emblem symbolizes power, courage and confidence. The abacus is girded by four smaller animals - guardians of the four directions: the lion of the north, the elephant of the east, the horse of the south and the bull of the west. The abacus rests on a nelumbo nucifera ...

Read more here: » Emblem of India: Encyclopedia - Emblem of India

Centuries: 4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC Decades: 310s BC 300s BC 290s BC 280s BC 270s BC - 260s BC - 250s BC 240s BC 230s BC 220s BC 210s BC 271 BC 270 BC 269 BC 268 BC 267 BC 266 BC - 265 BC 264 BC 263 BC 262 BC 261 BC Births Deaths Mithridates I of Pontus (Founder of the Kingdom of Pontus) Events ...

Read more here: » 266 BC: Encyclopedia - 266 BC

Bairat is a town in northern Jaipur District of Rajasthan, India. Bairat is located 52 km north of Jaipur, and 66km west of Alwar. Bairat - History. The ancient name of the town was Viratnagar, and its history goes back to the time of the Mahabharata. Viratnagar was the capital of the ancient Indian kingdom (Mahajanapada) of Machcha or Matsya. The kingdom came under the control of the neighboring Chedi kingdom in the 5th century, and was later part of the Mauryan Empire. The ruins of the B ...

Including:

• Bairat - History

Read more here: » Bairat: Encyclopedia - Bairat

Centuries: 4th century BC - 3rd century BC - 2nd century BC Decades: 280s BC 270s BC 260s BC 250s BC 240s BC - 230s BC - 220s BC 210s BC 200s BC 190s BC 180s BC Years: 235 BC 234 BC 233 BC 232 BC 231 BC - 230 BC - 229 BC 228 BC 227 BC 226 BC 225 BC Events Sieve of Eratosthenes developed. The Roman Lucius Coruncanius is assaulted and killed while on a diplomatic mission to Queen Teuta, an event leading to the First Illyrian War. Temple of Horus built by Ptolemy II ...

Read more here: » 230 BC: Encyclopedia - 230 BC

Ashoka the Great (Devanagari: अशोक; IAST transliteration: Aśoka) was the emperor of the Mauryan Empire from 273 BCE to 232 BCE. After a number of military conquests, Ashoka reigned over most of South Asia and beyond, from present-day Afghanistan to Bengal and as far south as Mysore. An early supporter of Buddhism, Ashoka established monuments marking several significant sites in the life of Shakyamuni Buddha, and according to Buddhist tradition was closely involved in t ...

Including:

• Ashoka - Historical sources
• Ashoka - Early life
• Ashoka - Rise to power
• Ashoka - Conversion to Buddhism
• Ashoka - Death and legacy
• Ashoka - Ashoka and Buddhist Kingship
• Ashoka - Ashoka in popular culture
• Ashoka - Sources

Read more here: » Ashoka: Encyclopedia - Ashoka

Prakrit (Sanskrit prākṛta प्राकृत (from pra-kṛti प्रकृति), "original, natural, artless, normal, ordinary, usual", i.e. "vernacular", in contrast to samskrta "excellently made", both adjectives elliptically referring to vak "speech") refers to the broad family of the Indic languages and dialects spoken in ancient India. The Prakrits became literary languages, generally patronized by kings identified with the ksatriya caste, but were regarded as illegitimate by the Brahmin ort ...

Including:

• Prakrit - Etymology
• Prakrit - Traditional accounts

Read more here: » Prakrit: Encyclopedia - Prakrit

Ajivika is an anti-Brahminical philosophy, which literally translates to "following an ascetic way of life". The Ajivikas were contemporaries of the early Buddhists and historical Jains; the Ajivika movement may have preceeded both of these groups, but may have been a more loosely organized group of wandering ascetics. Very little concrete information is known about the Ajivikas. Their scriptures and history were not preserved directly- instead, fragments of Ajivika doctrine were preserved in Buddhist and Jain sources, and they are me ...

Read more here: » Ajivika: Encyclopedia - Ajivika

Asoka (Sanskrit). A celebrated Indian king of the Morya dynasty which reigned at Magadha. There were two Asokas in reality, according to the chronicles of Northern Buddhism, though the first Asoka - the grand father of the second, named by Prof. Max Muller the "Constantine of India", was better known by his name of Chandragupta.

It is the former who was called, Piadasi (Pali) "the beautiful", and Devanam-piya "the beloved of the gods", and also Kalasoka; while the name of his grandson was Dharmasoká - the Asoka of the good law- - on account of his devotion to Buddhism. Moreover, according to the same source, the second Asoka had never followed the Brahmanical faith, but was a Buddhist born.

 It was his grandsire who had been first converted to the new faith, after which he had a number of edicts inscribed on pillars and rocks, a custom followed also by his grandson. But it was the second Asoka who was the most zealous supporter of Buddhism; he, who maintained in his palace from 60 to 70,000 monks and priests, who erected 84,000 totes and stupas throughout India, reigned 36 years, and sent missions to Ceylon, and throughout the world.

The inscriptions of various edicts published by him display most noble ethical sentiments, especially the edict at Allahahad, on the so-called "Asoka’s column ", in the Fort. The sentiments are lofty and poetical, breathing tenderness for animals as well as men, and a lofty view of a king’s mission with regard to his people, that might be followed with great success in the present age of cruel wars and barbarous vivisection.

(See also: Asoka, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

The film embroiders on several episodes in the life of the historical Ashoka, a early Indian ruler. In the film, prince Asoka falls in love with the beautiful princess Kaurwaki. When he believes her dead, he falls into despair and becomes a vicious, brutal conqueror. However, he has married a lovely Buddhist healer, and she plants the seed of his eventual conversion to Buddhism and righteous rule. In many ways this is a typical Bollywood tale, featuring song and dance numbers and comedic cameos. However, it is notable for its tragic concl ...

See also:

Asoka film, Asoka film - Plot Synopsis, Asoka film - Trivia

Read more here: » Asoka film: Encyclopedia II - Asoka film - Plot Synopsis

Dharmasoka (Sanskrit) The Asoka of the dharma; a name given King Asoka, the grandson of King Chandragupta, because he devoted his life to the dharma, or law of the Buddha, and its propaganda.

(See also: Dharmasoka, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Si-nsapa (Sanskrit) The tree Dalbergia Sissoo, the Asoka tree.

(See also: Si-nsapa, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Dharmasoka (Sanskrit). The name given to the first Asoka after his conversion to Buddhism, - King Chandragupta, who served all his long life "Dharma", or the law of Buddha. King Asoka (the second) was not converted, but was born a Buddhist.

(See also: Dharmasoka, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Chandragupta (Sanskrit) The first Buddhist King in India, the grand-sire of Asoka ; the Sandracottus of the all-bungling Greek writers who went to India in Alexander’s time. (See "Asoka".)

(See also: Chandragupta, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Asokavana:

Asokavana (Ashokavana). Grove of Asoka trees.

(See also: Asokavana, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)