| The Kalinga War | |||||||||
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| Combatants | |||||||||
| Maurya Empire | Kalinga | ||||||||
| Commanders | |||||||||
| Ashoka the Great | Nandidev | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| Unknown | 60,000 infantry,[1] 1,000 cavalry,[1] 700 war elephants[1] |
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| Casualties | |||||||||
| ~10,000 | 100,000[2][3] (including civilians) |
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The Kalinga War (Sanskrit: कलिन्ग युध्धम्) was a war fought between the Mauryan Empire under Ashoka the Great and the state of Kalinga, a feudal republic located on the coast of the present-day Indian state of Orissa.
Contents |
The War
The war began in the 8th year of Ashoka's reign, probably in 261 BC. Asoka's father Bindusara had previously attempted to conquer Kalinga, but had been repulsed. After a bloody battle for the throne after Bindusara's death, Asoka tried to annex Kalinga. He was successful only after a savage war, whose consequences changed Asoka's views on war and led him to pledge never to wage a war. It is said that in the aftermath of the Battle of Kalinga the Daya River running next to the battle field turned red with the blood of the slain; about 100,000 Kalinga civilians and more than 10,000 of Asoka's own warriors were among those slain.
Dhauli hill is presumed to be the area where the Kalinga War was fought. The historically important Dhauli hills are located on the banks of the Daya River, 8 km south of Bhubaneswar in Orissa (India). Dhauli hill, with a vast open space adjoining it, has major Edicts of Asoka engraved on a mass of rock by the side of the road leading to the summit of the hill.
The Aftermath
Ashoka had seen the bloodshed with his own eyes. He saw over two hundred sins and felt that he was the cause of the destruction. Ashoka's response to the Kalinga War is recorded in the Edicts of Ashoka. According to some of these (Rock Edict XIII and Minor Rock Edict I), the Kalinga War prompted Ashoka, already a non-engaged Buddhist, to devote the rest of his life to Ahimsa (non-violence) and to Dhamma-Vijaya (victory through Dhamma). Following the conquest of Kalinga, Ashoka ended the military expansion of the empire, and led the empire through more than 40 years of relative peace, harmony and prosperity.
- "Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, conquered the Kalingas eight years after his coronation. One hundred and fifty thousand were deported, one hundred thousand were killed and many more died (from other causes). After the Kalingas had been conquered, Beloved-of-the-Gods came to feel a strong inclination towards the Dhamma, a love for the Dhamma and for instruction in Dhamma. Now Beloved-of-the-Gods feels deep remorse for having conquered the Kalingas." Rock Edict No.13[4]
References
- ^ a b c Pliny the Elder (77 AD), Natural History VI, 22.1, quoting Megasthenes (3rd century BC), Indika, Fragm. LVI.
- ^ Ashoka the Great (r. 272-231 BC), Edicts of Ashoka, Major Rock Edict 13.
- ^ Radhakumud Mookerji (1988). Chandragupta Maurya and His Times. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. ISBN 8120804058.
- ^ S. Dhammika, The Edicts of King Ashoka, Kandy, Buddhist Publications Society (1994) ISBN ISBN 9552401046 (on line)
