Jignasa Journal Of History Of Ideas And Culture Part 02

SR No.: 022813
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Vibha Upadhyaya and Others
Publisher: University of Rajasthan
Publication Year: 2011
Total Pages: 236
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 11 MB

Page 141

Asokan ideal of Dhamma Vijaya
/ 357
he insisted on human social behavior he sought to avoid social hypocrisy. By holding out the possibility of heavenly bliss and similar rewards tried to raise the idea of responsibility from mere etiquette to a genuinely felt responsibility, investing it with a certain spiritual significance. Throughout his edicts he stresses the importance of the family. No doubt he saw that the family would provide an ideal nucleus for the development and spread of Dhamma.
In interpreting the term Dhamma we must beware of equating it with the Buddhist Dhamma or any other accepted system, which was called by this generic term. The true interpretation of Dhamma can only come about after a detailed analysis of who used the term and in what context. There is no need to seek equations for the Dhamma of Asoka for there is a large enough and retable enough body of literature in his own edicts which provides the answer as to what was the nature of Asoka Dhamma.
Political Reaction of Dharma Vijaya:
While discussing the gain or loss, the Dhamma Vijaya carrier of Asoka 'conferred of inflicted' on India and without denying that indirectly the country gained considerably, Dr. Bhandarkar poignantly observes", "The effects of this change of policy, of the replacement of vijaya by Dhamma Vijaya, were politically disasters though spiritually glorious. The Hindu mind, which was spiritual, became infinitely more spiritual. But that must have created some apathy to militarism, political greatness and material well being. This must have been the reason why after Kautilya we find the progress of the political theory and practice suddenly impeded and stunted especially at a time when the Magadha state was expected to create the feeling of nationality and raise India to a higher political plane. Asoka's new angle of vision, however sounded a death kneel to the Indian aspiration of a centralised national state and worldwide empire. The effects of his policy were manifest soon after his death. Dark clouds began to gather in the north western horizon, and hardly, a quarter of a century had elapsed since his demise when the Bactrian Greeks crossed the Hindukush which formed the north western boundary of the Mauryan dominions, and began to cause the decay of what was once a mighty empire. What is worse is that the Greek inroads soon after the demise of Asoka, for which his change of foreign policy appears to be responsible, opened a passage into India to the various wild hordes, such as the Sakas, Pahlavas, Kushanas, Hunas and so forth. though, on account of the missionary activity of Asoka, India, it appears has been lost to nationalism and political greatness, she has doubtless gained in cosmopolitanism and humanitarianism which are the basic principles of Hindu society."
Thus, Dr. Bhandarkar, has brought his bill of indictment against Asoka. But here, we must also reproduce the similar pronouncements and arguments from Dr. Jayaswal and Dr. Raychoudhuri before we consider the issue raised by them and impartially adjudicate on the facts and authorities relied upon. "The accident of the presence", says Dr. Jayaswal. "On the throne, at a particular juncture in history of a man who was designed by native to fill the chair of an abbot, put back events not by centuries but by milleniums? And Dr. Raychoudhuri, proceeding in the same strain adds: “The Magadhan successors of Asoka had neither the strength nor perhaps the will to arrest the process of disruption. The martial ardour of imperial Magadha had vanished with the last cries of agony uttered in the battlefield of Kalinga. Asoka had given up the. aggressive militarism of his forefathers and had evolved a policy of Dhamma Vijaya, which must have seriously impaired the military efficiency of his empire. He had called upon his sons and even great grandsons to eschew new conquests, avoid the shedding of blood and take pleasure in patience and gentleness. These latter had head more of