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Buddhist Historiography

Sources of Ashoka's Conversion: Mahavamsa and Divyavadana

According to the Mahavamsa, Ashoka was converted by Nigrodha, while the Divyavadana credits the monk Samudra for the Emperor's acceptance of Buddhism.

Primary Reference: NCERT Class XII - Themes in Indian History Part I

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Consider the following statements:
1. According to Mahavamsa, Ashoka turned to the Buddha's dhamma when his nephew Nigrodha preached the doctrine to him.
2. Divyavadana ascribes Ashoka being drawn to the Buddha's teaching to the influence of Ashokavandana Samudra, a merchant-turned monk
3. Dipavamsa speaks of Samudra, the 12 year old son of a merchant, as the key figure in, Ashoka's coming under the influence of the Buddhist Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

[CDS 2019 (II)]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept


Ashoka's transition to Buddhism is a central theme in Buddhist historiography, with different regional traditions emphasizing different catalytic figures.

Authentic Source Evidence


  • Statement 1: The Sri Lankan chronicle Mahavamsa highlights the role of the novice monk Nigrodha.

  • Statement 2: The North Indian Sanskrit text Divyavadana (specifically the Ashokavadana section) tells the story of the monk Samudra, who converted Ashoka after surviving the 'Hell' prison.

    • Analytical Breakdown


  • Logic 1: Statements 1 and 2 are correct according to their respective canonical sources.

  • Logic 2: Statement 3 is incorrect. The story of Samudra (as a 12-year-old or merchant's son) is found in the Ashokavadana, not the Dipavamsa (which is another Sri Lankan chronicle).

    • Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

    "How do these stories differ from Ashoka's own edicts?"

    Buddhist texts emphasize miraculous monks and sermons, while Ashoka's edicts (like Major Rock Edict XIII) credit the Kalinga War as the primary turning point.

    Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

    "The variation in these accounts shows how different Buddhist sects (Theravada in Sri Lanka vs Sarvastivada in North India) sought to claim a special connection to the Emperor's conversion."

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