Ashokavadana
Topic: Buddhism, Jainism and Heterodox Traditions · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 4 "Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings"
Meaning
The Aśhokāvadāna is a Sanskrit Buddhist text about the life of the Mauryan emperor Asoka (third century BCE). It is a book of legends rather than an exact history. Still, it shows how later Buddhists remembered Asoka as a great supporter of their faith. It also helps explain why stupas, the mounds built over relics, became so common.
Example
The Aśhokāvadāna says that Asoka divided the Buddha's relics into portions and sent one to every important town. It also says he ordered stupas to be built over them. This story helps explain the many stupas found at sites such as Sanchi.
Don't confuse with
- Asoka's edicts: the edicts are inscriptions carved on rocks and pillars on Asoka's own orders, so they are direct evidence. The Aśhokāvadāna is a later Buddhist legend about him.
- Divyāvadāna: the Divyāvadāna is the larger Sanskrit story collection that includes the Aśhokāvadāna.
Related concepts
- Tipitaka
- Vinaya Pitaka
- Sutta Pitaka
- Abhidhamma Pitaka
- Abhidhamma Divas
- Pali
- Pali classical language
- Buddhist councils
- First Buddhist council
- Second Buddhist council