He had his edicts, which emphasized non-violence (ahimsa), tolerance, and the welfare of the people, inscribed on rocks and pillars. Ashoka's patronage was decisive in the spread of Buddhism beyond India, to Sri Lanka and Central Asia.
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Frequently asked questions
- What was Ashoka's Kalinga War and Conversion to Buddhism?
- Around 261 BCE the Mauryan emperor Ashoka conquered Kalinga in a bloody war; feeling deep remorse at the tens of thousands of deaths, he turned to Buddhism.
- When did Ashoka's Kalinga War and Conversion to Buddhism happen?
- 261 BCE