Contents: Preface. 1. The Buddha and Magadha. 2. The rise of Magadha. 3. Chandragupta Maurya. 4. Asoka ascends the throne. 5. A turning point. 6. Asoka and the Sangha. 7. The seven Dhamma texts. 8. The beginning of Dhamma propagation. 9. Asoka's benevolence. 10. Ashoka's reforms. 11. Asoka's remorse. 12. Asoka's Dhamma. 13. The Third Buddhist Council. 14. Dhamma-Vijaya. 15. 84,000 stupas. 16. The last days of Asoka. 17. Asoka and decline of Mauryan empire. 18. The successors of Asoka. 19. Indian's forget Asoka. 20. Asoka re-discovered. 21. Asokan pillars. 22. Analysis of the edicts of Asoka. 23. Historical significance of the edicts. 24. The Asoka legacy. 25. Asoka's greatness. Appendix: Thus spake Asoka the Great. A. Major rock edicts. B. Pillar edicts. Bibliography. Illustrations. Index.

"The book is the first comprehensive and uptodate study on Asoka The Great, the greatest monarch ever to rule India. Divided into 25 chapters, it presents a critical assessment of Asoka's greatness and glory as a man, as a king, and as a patron of Buddhism. It also gives a detailed analysis of the Asokan edicts--their purpose, language, contents, chronology and locations as well as their historical importance. The book throws fresh light on Asoka's Dhamma, his contribution to Buddhism, and the reasons which led to the decline of the Mauryan empire. The book further attempts to probe how and why Asoka was forgotten by Indians, and how he was re-discovered by the curious Britishers in the 19th century. The book also brings out in bold relief the rich legacy of Asoka in the life and culture of modern India." (jacket)

[D.C. Ahir also wrote Buddhism in Modern India, Buddha Gaya Through the Ages and Buddhist Shrines in India.] 

Return to Buddhism Catalogue