Emperor Ashoka succeeded his father , Bindusara. He ascended the throne in 273 BC. He was one of the greatest Indian rulers. Numerous rock and pillar edicts spread over a large part of India, provide a lot of information about Ashoka's reign.
During ashoka's reign, Kalinga was the only kingdom which was not under Mauryan control. Ashoka decided to conquer Kalinga and attacked it in 261 BC. Finally, he conquered Kalinga. That was his turning point.When he saw the bloodshed of the soliders, their sufferings, he gave up violence and embraced Buddhism.
He started the policy of 'Dhamma' ( Dhamma in Prakrith = Dharma in Sanskrit). This kind of thinking is based on some Buddhist chronicles. The Kalinga war was a dramatic turning point where out of remorse for the death and destruction of war and embraced peace and harmony. These chronicles inscribed on rocks, walls, buildings, pillars through out the empire are called 'Edicts of Ashoka'. The Buddhist records credit him with the propagation of Buddhism in India and aboard. As an emperor, Ashoka did not favour Buddhism at the expenses of other religions. Ashoka also started Dhamma yatras. He and his high officials were to tour the country propagating Dhamma and establishing direct contact with his subjects. Because of such attitudes and policies, modern writers have called him "a monk in a king's garb."
-By,J.Harish Arjun., 6th Std, Presidency School NLO, Bangalore.
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