ASOKA THE GREAT---- An interpretation of History.

I have always wondered why Asoka The Great, the Mauryan Emperor of Ancient India renounced 'BeriGhosha'(War proclamation) to replace it with 'DhammaGhosha' (Justice proclamation), that too when  he was at the zenith of his military expedition, well as per the historical evidences he was influenced by the AHIMSA philosophy and DHAMMA doctrine of Buddhism after being remorseful for causing a bloody war.

But here am trying to analyze it from a different angle, can be the adoption of Buddhism by Asoka was meant to catalyze the consolidation of his empire? well, an analysis of the following observations leave a mere possibility for the acceptance of that out of box assumption.

Before the reign of Asoka , his immediate predecessor managed to bring virtually the whole of Indian subcontinent under Mauryan Empire barring a lone dissenting Kingdom called KALINGA. There fore soon after his anointment and subsequent elevation to throne it became imperative for Asoka to showcase his military virulence and dominance by subjugating that dissenting kingdom.And hence there ensued a war, a devastating war.

 After prolonged period of fighting, KALINGA was subjugated, and now there arise the administrative question of holding up the vast stretch of land, to bring its varied citizens who represented various beliefs and cults to abide by a single harmonious adoptable law. And Buddhism was the perfect answer fitting the contemporary social milieu.Hence Emperor patronized and promoted the philosophy of Non violence guided by the wheel of Justice( Dhamma chakkra). This helped him to bring in people of diverse kind under a uniform code of law and thus helped him to consolidate a vast empire which otherwise would have strayed in chaos.

It is to be noted that though Asoka transformed himself to be a patron of Non violence, he never dismissed his army, and he never waged a war, but he sent missionaries to foreign lands to advocate Buddhism, and there by leveraging his glory to reach far lands along with Buddhism.History account him as an Emperor who renounced War at a time of great military strength,for that reason he stand tall and  stand unique...!!!