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1. History for kids
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In his younger days
Ashoka is said to have
had a massive temper
and was also consid-
ered to be a very cruel
person. He was nick-
named Chand Ashoka,
meaning 'Ashoka the
fierce' after building a
horrific torture cham-
ber. He once put his
ministers through a
test of loyalty in which
around 500 of them
failed.
Ashoka was headquartered in
Magadha (Bihar). His kingdom
stretched from Pakistan and Af-
ghanistan in the west, to Assam
and Bangladesh in the east, and
as far as Kerala and Andhra
Pradesh in the south.

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Within 8 years of ascending the
throne, Ashoka expanded his empire
to regions in Iran and Persia. His quest
to expand his empire however would
change after the bloody battle of Ka-
linga.
Kalinga was a state in the
fertile land between the Go-
davari and Mahanadi rivers.
Ashoka invaded this king-
dom after they refused to
bow down to him. It is said
that a 100,000 soldiers of
the Kalinga army died in this
war and Ashoka too lost
around 10,000 of his men.

4. Copyright 2011 Mocomi & Anibrain Digital Technologies Pvt. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.©
After the battle, Ashoka was very moved by the
devastation he had caused. He saw burnt
houses and scattered corpses all around, and
the wails of the mourners pierced his ears.
Ashoka adopted Buddhism soon
after, embracing its message of
peace. He made it the state religion
and propagated its message within
the boundaries of his kingdom as
well as in other parts of the world.
He built thousands of Stupas and
Viharas that still stand until today.

5. Copyright 2011 Mocomi & Anibrain Digital Technologies Pvt. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.©
For the remainder of his
life Ashoka practiced
Ahimsa (non-violence).
Hunting was limited for
consumption and un-
necessary slaughter of
animals was abolished.
He also promoted the
concept of vegetarian-
ism.
During his reign, Ashoka built
many universities, water tran-
sit and irrigation systems to
promote trade and agricul-
ture. He constructed hospitals
and renovated major roads
throughout his kingdom and
treated his subjects equally
regardless of their politics, cul-
ture, or class.

6. Copyright 2011 Mocomi & Anibrain Digital Technologies Pvt. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.©
After 40 years on the throne
Ashoka breathed his last
breath at the ripe age of 72.
He left behind a legacy of an
able ruler and lawmaker, a
hero, a monk and a noble
preacher of dharma. Ashoka
was the last of the great
kings of the Mauryan dy-
nasty that eventually fell
apart 50 years later.
All our knowledge of Ashoka's
rule is from inscriptions he had
carved on pillars and rocks
throughout his kingdom. They all
speak of compassionate living
and spreading peace and love.
The End.
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