Emperor Asoka's mission - harbinger of Buddhism

by Amal HEWAVISSENTI

The significance of Poson Poya goes back to the religious mission of Emperor Asoka of India. Young Asoka left behind a carnage in the battle to capture the country of Kalinga. The blood-shed brought about in his efforts to be the greatest monarch eventually drove him into the path of peace.

He was resolved to re-establish ties with his neighbours and sent Buddhist envoys to them. However, Asoka's principles made a provincial religion a renowned world religion but he respected others' right to their religious beliefs.

Diplomatic ties

Emperor Asoka was highly successful in conducting diplomatic relations with countries around his empire. His inscriptions record the names of rulers with whom he had imperial relationship. Antiochus Theos of Syria, Ptolemi Philadelphus of Egupt, Alexander of Epyrus, Magus of Syrine, Antigonus Gonatus of Macedonia were among the rulers with whom he had established new ties. He believed he could impress his new religious policies on the neighbours and acquire spiritual leadership of the continent.

Emperor Asoka's policies

His inscriptions state that he planted fruit trees for food and shade, constructed wells and revamped the network of roads. Moreover, he planted medicinal herbs. He appointed a special team of ministers (Dharma Mahamathra) to give effect to his vision throughout the empire. Buddhism began to shape itself into a global religion and Buddhist envoys were sent within India and outside in his bid to make Buddhism a universal religion. He blended his personal principles and feelings with the values of popular Buddhism. He focused on the value of nonviolence and acknowledged the fact that all citizens are his own children. Says another inscription of Asoka, "the great king pays respects to all people belonging to diverse religions and clans".

His royal expeditions were replaced by royal visits to religious places.

Asoka's religious learnings

Emperor Asoka nurtured great ambitions to be the greatest religious ruler and was determined to re-establish prosperity within his empire. His inscriptions were the mouth-piece of the moral values he believed in. He earnestly believed in the concept that earning wealth moderately and spending it wisely was the most sensible way to handle one's economy.

Therefore, his "Dhamma" meant a course of action followed by a man with a common sense. The chief ingredients of his religious principles are good will and non violence.

Impact on Sri Lankan culture

King Asoka's Buddhist mission headed by Arhat Mahinda Thera added a new dimension to the Sri Lankan culture and religion at large. Historical proof shows that the culture prevalent in Sri Lanka before the advent of Arhat Mahinda Thera lacked unrefinement. Some scholars flatly contradict this story because no reference to a Buddhist mission to Sri Lanka is to be found in any of Asoka's inscriptions. But Mahavamsa strongly supports the records that Emperor Asoka mapped out the Buddhist mission to Sri Lanka under the leadership of Mahinda Thera. Inscriptions found at Sanchi Stupas by Alexander Cunningham indicate the names of Monks believed to have been sent to different countries to disseminate Dhamma as recorded in Mahavamsa. Much of what Sri Lankan chronicles have established are borne out by Indian inscriptions.

Although the Aryans settled down in Sri Lanka three centuries ago the Sri Lankan culture nourished by Buddhism bore a fresh identity during the reign of King Devanam Piya Tissa. That the King Tissa accepted the emperor's designation of "Devanampiya", and embraced the new religion and culture implies that there had been close diplomatic ties between them. However, during the long reign of king Tissa, Buddhism occupied every aspect of Sri Lankan Society. Apart from Arhat Mahinda's legacy, the king must have been impressed with Asoka's ideology which said, "It is difficult to win this world without a liking for Dhamma, without self-examination, without conforming to Dhamma, without respect for Dhamma. Under my leadership, my ministers follow the principles of Dhamma clear any person of disbelief in Dhamma. My motive is to organise and run the government and please my people. It is my command...". These principles by Asoka have invariably inspired the kingship and the culture of Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lankan culture, a blend of various religions and cultural traits before the advent of Arhat Mahinda Thera, became one culture with religious, social, political and educational resurgence after his arrival. With the development arts and crafts, ethics values and education, a new Sri Lankan culture was spawned under State patronage. The Poson is the season which marks the transformation of a primitive society into a refined culture that is today.