Contents
Introduction
The Mauryan Empire was a period of profound ideological expansion. While Ashoka is celebrated for his Dhamma-led global spread of Buddhism, his grandson, Samrat Samprati, often referred to as the Jain Ashoka, played a parallel role in institutionalizing Jainism across the subcontinent and beyond. He issued 33 major rock and pillar edicts promoting Dhamma (Buddhist ethical principles like non-violence, tolerance, and welfare).
Ashoka’s Patronage of Buddhism
Ashoka transformed Buddhism from a regional sect into a pan-Indian and international faith after his conversion following the Kalinga War.
- Dhamma Missions: Sending Dhamma Mahamattas and his children (Mahinda and Sanghamitta) to Sri Lanka, South East Asia, and Hellenistic kingdoms.
- Inscriptional Authority: Using Rock Edicts to encode ethical governance, making Buddhism synonymous with state policy.
- Architectural Legacy: Building 84,000 stupas and the Sanchi complex, providing a physical anchor for the faith.
Samprati’s Patronage of Jainism
According to Jain texts like the Parishishtaparvan, Samprati was converted by Suhastin Suri and mirrored his grandfather’s zeal:
- Temple Building: He is credited with building thousands of Jain temples (Basadis) in regions like Rajasthan, Gujarat (Girnar), and even reaching as far as Afghanistan and Iran.
- Missionary Zeal: He sent Jain monks to non-Aryan lands (like Andhra and Coorg) to spread the tenets of Ahimsa and Anekantavada, ensuring Jainism took root in Southern India.
- Social Patronage: Similar to Ashoka’s distribution of alms, Samprati established centers for distributing food and clothes, aligning Jain ethics with Mauryan welfare. Providing royal patronage to Jain acharyas and monks, enabling systematic spread of the faith. Supporting the Digambara and Svetambara traditions during a period of consolidation.
Comparative Analysis
- Similarities: Both used royal authority, infrastructure, and missionary activity for propagation. Both emphasized ethical values (Dhamma for Ashoka, ahimsa for Samprati) and built monumental religious structures.
- Differences: Ashoka’s efforts are richly documented through inscriptions and archaeological evidence, giving Buddhism wider geographical reach. Samprati’s contributions are primarily recorded in later Jain literature, with stronger regional focus in the north and west. Ashoka’s patronage was more public and state-centric; Samprati’s was deeply institutional within the Jain sangha.
- Scale and Impact: Ashoka internationalised Buddhism; Samprati strengthened Jainism’s foothold in the Gangetic heartland during a phase of political consolidation.
Role of Mauryan Kings in Fostering Pluralistic Religious Identity
The succession from Chandragupta (Jainism) to Ashoka (Buddhism) and Samprati (Jainism) illustrates a unique Mauryan model of Religious Pluralism:
- State Neutrality vs. Personal Faith: While kings patronized specific faiths, the Mauryan state maintained a broad “Dhamma” that transcended sectarian boundaries.
- Synthesis of Ethics: The focus on non-violence (Ahimsa), truth, and social responsibility across both reigns created a foundational Indian Ethos that persists today.
- Institutionalization: Both rulers moved beyond mere belief to building Museums, Viharas, and Libraries, ensuring the survival of Shramanic traditions through centuries of political upheaval.
Way Forward
- Recognise Mauryan pluralism as a historical model for modern secular policy.
- Integrate lessons of religious tolerance in school curricula and public discourse.
- Promote archaeological preservation of Mauryan-era sites to highlight India’s plural heritage.
- Encourage inter-faith dialogues inspired by Ashoka’s Dhamma and Samprati’s Jain patronage.
Conclusion
As President Droupadi Murmu observed in her 2026 Republic Day address on India’s civilisational ethos and per Romila Thapar’s Ashoka and the Decline of the Mauryas, Mauryan kings institutionalised pluralism, making religious tolerance a cornerstone of Indian identity.
