The Religion of Ashoka: An outstanding unique example of the universal brotherhood in the ancient Indian history

    The religion of Ashoka is an outstanding and unique example of the universal brotherhood in the ancient Indian history. Without religion of Ashoka, the discussion of the ancient Indian history will incomplete. Ashoka is an important part of the ancient Indian history and also in the world history.  Generally, one emperor gives his attention to the politics of his own empire but in the case of Ashoka, he gives his attention to the religious activities and public welfare. Ashoka 'public welfare policy is so relevant to the modern age. Somewhere religion of Ashoka is similar to the public welfare policy. He applied his religious policy to the mass people by some welfare policy. He tried his best to apply the policy of welfare to the mass people. He spread his religious ideas to the over the country. India keeps her contribution to the world history through the ages. The religion of Ashoka is considered a Juel in the world history. On the other hand teaching of Lord Budha massively converted his life. It also converted the state politics of the Muryan empire. 

    Source of history is the most important ingredient in the historical discussion. If the historical source is the short quantity there are so many problems can arise but where the historical source is enough there is a huge possibility of research and analytical discussions. We can know huge information about the Religion of Ashoka from Buddhist religious text or manuscript. Though for the Religion of Ashoka we have found various other sources. So many inscriptions, rock edicts, pillar inscription we have found all over India and through this inscriptions, we can know various aspects of Ashoka's religion. Ashoka established so many rock edicts, pillar inscriptions for wide publicity of his religious idle. We can gather huge information from those and analyse those we can reach to the perfect intrinsic theory. Ashoka had built so many stupas a vihars all over India. We can know more information about the religion of Ashoka those stupas and vihars. But how many similarities between Buddhist religion and religion of Ashoka have it is so arguably among historians. Though Ashoka established his trusts on the Buddhist religion. From minor rock edict, we can know about this.

    Ashoka became the emperor of the Mauryan empire after his father Bindusara. While sitting on the throne he concentrated on the expanding of the empire. He attacks the Kalinga state. And he won the Kalinga state. This war was a remarkable incident in Muryan dynasty and Ashoka's life also. Ashoka's mind was massively changed by the huge loss of life in the Kalinga war. The effect of the Kalinga war gives a deep impression on the mind of Ashoka. He takes initiation of Buddha by the monk Upagupta. It is a myth that Ashoka had to kill his ninety-nine brothers. So his name became Chandashoka. But after the initiation of Lord Buddha, he became 'Dharmashoka'. But there is no historical evidence of the killing of his ninety-nine brothers. Historian says that it is just a myth. 

    The religion of Ashoka was based on the public welfare. He wants to serve people as a father. He has mentioned himself in his rock edicts as the father of mass people. There is a huge description of Ashoka's religion in his inscriptions.By that inscription, he declared his, own religious views for mass people. In the third minor rock edict, he shows his faith in the religion of Lord Buddha. But historians are said that there have some differences between the religion of the Lord Buddha and religion of emperor Ashoka. Ashoka took initiation of Lord Buddha as 'Upasaka'. As soon as he followed the principle of Buddhism, he became a major patron of the Buddhist religion. He constructed many stupas and vihars all over the country. He travelled many places which are related to the life of Lord Buddha and he also established stupa there. He also constructed vihars for the monks of Buddhism. He donates many lands also to the monks. By analysing those activities of Ashoka we can realise that Ashoka was fully devoted to the Buddha and Buddhist Shangh. Through this, we can know the great adherence of Ashoka to the Lord Buddha.
   The religion of Ashoka was considered to be moral, social, and civilised.  He gave special importance to citizen awareness. He has made an incarnation of secularism in social relations, with emphasis on humanity. Ashoka said that social relation should be based on human values.  The religion of Ashoka has been applied to maintain social harmony and social solidarity. In the religion, if Ashoka, religious constrictions have not been tolerated in any way.   He said in his inscription that, all religions must be respectful. It can be said that religion if Ashoka was completely free of narrowness.