Ashoka's Dhamma: Buddhism as Imperial Policy in Ancient India

In this episode of Religion and Empire: How Faith Built Nations, Lucas and Luna explore the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka's transformation from a conqueror to a proponent of Dhamma after the bloody Kalinga War around 260 BCE. They discuss how Ashoka's personal conversion to Buddhism led to a state policy of moral governance, inscribed on rocks and pillars across the subcontinent. The conversation covers the role of the Dhamma Mahamattas, the Third Buddhist Council convened by Moggaliputta Tissa, and the empire's diplomatic missions to Hellenistic kingdoms. Specific edicts, like the Rock Edicts at Girnar and the Pillar Edict at Lauriya Araraj, are examined for their content and significance. The hosts also touch on the enduring legacy of Ashoka's symbols, such as the Lion Capital at Sarnath, which became the national emblem of modern India. This episode delves into how Ashoka's use of Buddhism as an imperial ideology created one of history's earliest examples of faith-based statecraft. #Ashoka #Maurya #Buddhism #Dhamma #KalingaWar #RockEdicts #PillarEdicts #MoggaliputtaTissa #ThirdBuddhistCouncil #DhammaMahamatta #Girnar #LauriyaAraraj #SarnathLionCapital #Prakrit #Brahmi #Kharosthi #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo