Dr.

Amita Gupta
Assistant Professor
Learning Outcomes

 Know the different causes of the Kalinga war

 Understand the nature and the results of the war
 Know the historical background of the formulation of the policy of
Dhamma,
 Know the essence of Asoka's policy of Dhamma as explained by
him and as manifested in his welfare activities, paternal attitude,
etc.,
 Understand the various means employed by Asoka to propagate
his policy of Dhamma-the role of the Dhamma mahamatras.
 Emergence and Growth of
Mauryan Empire
Kalinga War, Ashoka’s Dhamma
Kalinga War
Region of Kalinga

 Kalinga was East-central India’s historic territorial division. It corresponds to

modern-day Madhya Pradesh, the majority of Odisha, northern Telangana,
and northeastern Andhra Pradesh.
 According to strict definitions, Kalinga did not extend south of the Godavari
River, omitting Vengi (the territory between that river and the Krishna River).
 The hinterland of the area is connected to central India and the Indo-
Gangetic Plain to the north by a hilly, heavily wooded region.
 Kalinga had a thriving seaborne trade with Burma (now Myanmar) and
regions even farther south and east to the ports of Kakinada,
Visakhapatnam, and Srikakulam (Chicacole), as well as the significant cities
of Rajahmundry and Vizianagaram, all of which are now in Andhra
Pradesh.
Region of Kalinga

 Mahapadma, who established the Nanda dynasty in Magadha (c. 343–c.

321 BCE), invaded Kalinga.
 It broke away from the Magadhan empire shortly after the end of the
Nanda dynasty, although it was later retaken by Ashoka, the Mauryan ruler,
in the third century BCE after a bloody battle that is said to have influenced
him to become a Buddhist.
 The Yayatis, Vishnukundins, Bhanjas, and Bhauma Karas later governed
some of the coastal strips, as did the Somavamshis of southern Kosala, who
controlled the important town of Chakrakotta (in what is now southern
Chhattisgarh).
Region of Kalinga

 The most well-known kings in all of Kalinga were the Eastern Gangas. Their
dynasty, which came to power in the middle of the 11th century CE,
occasionally engaged in a rivalry with and occasionally formed alliances
with the Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi.
 Anantavarman Chodnagagadeva was particularly well-known in the next
century; he constructed the Jagannath Temple at Puri (now in eastern
Odisha).
 The Eastern Gangas took care of watching over that time and considered
the deity as their landowner. Narasimha constructed the well-known sun
temple at Konark in the 13th century.
 The Eastern Gangas successfully resisted Muslim invasion from the north
between 1238 and 1305, but the dynasty fell in 1324 when the ruler of Delhi
invaded Kalinga from the south.
Kalinga War
Kalinga War

 The Kalinga War, which took place between Ashoka, the great Mauryan
Emperor, and the ruler of the State of Kalinga, a feudal republic located in
modern-day Odisha and northern Andhra Pradesh, is one of the most well-
known conflicts in Indian history and one of the bloodiest conflicts in world
history.
The nature of the Kalinga War

 Kalinga War took place in 261 B.C.

 With the grand army Asoka invaded Kalinga from north, west and south.
 Kalingans resisted the attack vehemently.
 The war took place on the bank of the river Daya near Dhauli.
 The Rock Edict XIII mentions the horror of the Kalinga war.
Source of Kalinga War
 A detailed account of this war is known from
Rock Edict XIII found at Shahbazgarh in Pakistan.
Causes of the Kalinga war

 Powerful neighbor
 Imperialistic design of Ashoka
 Economic prosperity of Kalinga
 Commercial factor
 Stealing of Asoka's jewels by the Nagas
 Legend of Karuvaki
 Religious factor
Causes of the Kalinga War?

 The Kalinga War was primarily driven by a combination of strategic,

economic, and political factors.
 Several causes contributed to Emperor Ashoka’s decision to wage war
against the independent kingdom of Kalinga.
Expansionist Ambitions:

 Ashoka, like many rulers of his time, had a strong desire to expand his
empire and consolidate his authority.
 By the time of the Kalinga War, Ashoka had already conquered large
parts of the Indian subcontinent.
 Kalinga’s independence and its strategic location on the eastern coast
posed a challenge to Ashoka’s vision of a unified empire.
 The desire to exert control and extend his dominion motivated Ashoka
to pursue military action against Kalinga.
Wealth and Resources:

 Kalinga was known for its prosperity and abundant resources. The
region was a hub of maritime trade, with access to valuable
commodities such as spices, precious metals, and gemstones.
 The economic potential of Kalinga was a significant factor in Ashoka’s
decision to wage war.
 By bringing Kalinga under his rule, Ashoka aimed to control its wealth
and resources, further enhancing the economic power of his empire.
Maritime Power:

 Kalinga had a reputation as a formidable maritime power in ancient

India. It’s skilled sailors and extensive naval capabilities made it a force
to be reckoned with in the Indian Ocean trade network.
 Ashoka, intrigued by Kalinga’s maritime prowess, saw the conquest of
Kalinga as an opportunity to expand his influence and control over
maritime trade routes.
 Gaining dominance over Kalinga would solidify Ashoka’s control over
both land and sea, increasing his empire’s strategic and economic
advantages.
Failed Diplomatic Attempts:

 Prior to the outbreak of the war, Ashoka made diplomatic efforts to

peacefully annex Kalinga. However, these attempts proved unsuccessful,
as Kalinga fiercely resisted subjugation.
 The failure of diplomatic negotiations pushed Ashoka toward military
action as a means to achieve his objectives.
 The reluctance of Kalinga to surrender its independence and the
perceived defiance of Ashoka’s authority further fueled his
determination to conquer the kingdom.
Symbolic Suppression:

 The conquest of Kalinga was not only a strategic and economic objective
for Ashoka but also a symbolic display of his power and authority.
Kalinga’s resistance and independence were seen as a challenge to
Ashoka’s sovereignty.
 Subduing Kalinga would serve as a demonstration of his military might
and establish his dominance over any opposition within his empire.
 The symbolic significance of conquering Kalinga played a crucial role in
Ashoka’s decision to wage war.
Summary of Causes

 In summary, the causes of the Kalinga War can be attributed to

Ashoka’s expansionist ambitions, the allure of Kalinga’s wealth and
resources, the kingdom’s reputation as a maritime power, failed
diplomatic negotiations, and the symbolic suppression of a defiant
kingdom.
 These factors converged to drive Ashoka toward military action,
ultimately leading to the brutal conflict that transformed both Ashoka
and the course of ancient Indian history.
Results of the Kalinga War

 Loss of man and material

 Annexation of Kalinga
 Change from Chandasoka to Dharmasoka
 Acceptance of Buddhism after Kalinga war
 Spread of Buddhism in India and outside countries
 Paternal attitude towards his subjects
 Growth of art, architecture and literature
 Appointment of Viceroy and Ministers
 Appointment of Dharma Mahamatras
 Well organised bureaucracy
Kalinga war - Outcome

• Ashoka was victorious and hence governed Kalinga. Ashoka witnessed the bloody
battlefield firsthand.
• 100,000 soldiers lost their lives and 1,50,000 were captured as captives.
• A similar number of Mauryan troops were killed. On the battlefield, he witnessed the
bodies of horses, elephants, and soldiers.
• There were blood streams everywhere.
• Orphaned children were sobbing. In anguish, wounded individuals were writhing on
the ground.
• Countless individuals suffered as a result of the conflict.
• In front of his eyes, the entire Kalinga was annihilated. He captured Kalinga, but not a
single individual was left to live as a slave.
• He couldn't remain much longer and led his soldiers back to Pataliputra with a
sorrowful heart.
Kalinga war - Aftermath

• The Kalinga War had a significant impact on Ashoka.

• It is most likely the only fight in the annals of ancient Indian history that resulted
with a would-be conqueror laying down his sword.
• The Kalinga War inspired Ashoka, who was already a non-attached Buddhist, to
devote the rest of his life to ahimsa (nonviolence) and dharma-Vijaya (victory
through dharma).
• Following the conquest of Kalinga, Ashoka put a halt to the empire's military
growth and began a period of more than 40 years of relative peace, harmony, and
prosperity.
• While Ashoka's doctrine of peace provided unity to the empire in the short term,
it weakened its ability to defend itself from external attacks in the long run.
Significance of the Kalinga war in the Indian
History

• Even after conquering the Kalinga war, Ashoka the Great was dissatisfied.
• He was overcome with despair when he witnessed Kalinga's horrific state,
complete with blood and tears. Kalinga's loss as a result of the conflict was
devastating.
• He was dissatisfied because he had defeated Kalinga at a high cost in human life.
• The scenes of death, misery, suffering, tears, and blood he witnessed on the
battlefield gave him no rest of mind and tormented him constantly.
• He realised that any sort of battle may have a long-term impact on the survivors'
thoughts and lives.
• The Kalinga War inspired him to devote the remainder of his life to nonviolence
(Ahimsa) and Dhamma triumph (Dhamma-Vijaya).
Significance of the Kalinga war in the Indian
History
• He proclaimed that the true conquest in life is conquest by dharma, not conquest through violence. He
adopted Buddhism as his religion.
• Ashoka vowed that he would never again take up weapons. He put a halt to the empire's military
expansion. His first and only conflict was the Kalinga war.
• He made important modifications to Magadh's state policies. Magadhan imperialism came to an end.
• The Magadhan monarchs' age-old policy of war and conquest likewise came to an end. The empire
established a new policy of peace and nonviolence.
• Except for the far south, Ashoka ruled the entire Indian subcontinent after the Kalinga war.
• His Dhamma rules were carved into rocks and stone pillars. Missionaries were dispatched to various
nations to preach Buddhism and Dhamma so that more people may adapt to a nonviolent way of life.
• Such inscriptions may still be discovered today, both in India and elsewhere.
• Ashoka the Great led the Mauryan Empire through 40 years of peace, harmony, humanism, love,
nonviolence, and wealth.
• The Mauryan dynasty and the Mauryan Empire disintegrated after Ashoka's death in 232 BC.
Conclusion

 The Kalinga War took place in ancient India between the Mauryan Empire led by
Ashoka and the state of Kalinga, an autonomous feudal kingdom on India's east
coast. Following Ashoka's death in 232 BC, the Mauryan dynasty and the
Mauryan Empire crumbled. The Kalinga War is one of the most spectacular and
well-known wars in Indian history. It is unsurpassed in terms of ferocity among all
the terrible and brutal fights conducted in Indian history.
Ashoka’s Dhamma
Ashoka’s Policy of Dharma:

 Equated with his conversion to Buddhis.

 Credited with the propagation of the tenets of the Buddhist sect.
 Policy of dhamma to eliminate social tension and sectarian conflicts, and
to promote a harmonious relationship between the diverse elements of the
vast empire.
 Main Features of Contents of the
• Dhamma
Edicts gave Asoka (Edicts):
the
opportunity to expound his
dhamma.

• While different major rock

edicts talk about various
aspects of the dhamma,
the Major Rock Edict XI
contains an elaborate
explanation of the
dhamma, apart from
dealing with charity and
kinship of humanity.
Main features of the Dhamma on Rock
Edicts of Ashoka
1. Major Rock Edict I
2. Major Rock Edict II
3. Major Rock Edict III
4. Major Rock Edict IV
5. Major Rock Edict V
6. Major Rock Edict VI
7. Major Rock Edict VII
8. Major Rock Edict VIII
9. Major Rock Edict IX
10. Major Rock Edict X
11. Major Rock Edict XI
12. Major Rock Edict XII
13. Major Rock Edict XIII
14. Major Rock Edict XIV
Summary

 The Kalinga War of 261 B.C. is considered as the sheet anchor of Odishan
history. With it begins the dated history of Orissa.
 �Tile existence of Kalinga as a powerful neighbor on the border of
Magadha was definitely a threat to the power and potentiality of
Magadha.
 �Asoka's invasion of Kalinga in 261 B.C. appears to have been actuated
by his imperialistic designs.
 �There were certain economic factors which had created rivalry
between Kalinga and Magadha.
 �In trade and commerce, Kalinga was a great competitor of Magadha.
 �The Nagas stole away the jewels of Asoka, so in order to take revenge,
Asoka invaded Kalinga.
Summary

 �Asoka invaded Kalinga being infatuated by the beauty of Karuvaki, the

daughter of a fisherman and the fiancée of the crown prince of Kalinga.
 �Religion was another potential factor for Asoka's invasion of Kalinga.
 �The much anticipated Kalinga War took place in 261 B.C.
 �The Kalinga war had far reaching results which made lasting impact on
mankind.
 �In this war 150,000 soldiers from the side of Kalinga were taken as
prisoners by Asoka and 100,000 were slain and many others got died out of
injuries and epidemic after the war.
 With the victory of Asoka in the Kalinga war, Kalinga was annexed to
Magadhan empire and it constituted its fifth province.
Summary

 Our sources of information about Asoka's Dhamma are his inscriptions on

the basis of which we can say that Asoka preached non-violence,
toleration and social responsibility.
 He followed these precepts in his administrative policy. It has to be noted
that Dhamma cannot be equated with Buddhism.
 It was a set of principles gleaned from various religious traditions and was
implemented to hold the empire together.