Question

Who was the father of Ashoka?
1. Chandragupta Maurya
2. Brihadratha
3. Bindusara
4. Kunala

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : Bindusara

The correct answer is Bindusara.

• Bindusara was the father of Ashoka.

• Ashoka was the third ruler of the Maurya dynasty.
• • He ruled from  268 to 232 BC
  • Ashoka was also known as ‘Chandaashoka’ as he killed his brothers to get the throne.
  • He promoted Buddhism across India and Asia.
  • He made Buddhism his state religion.
  • He sent his daughter Sanghamitra and son Mahinda to Ceylon for propagating Buddhism.
  • He built a lion Stambh i.e.  Ashok Stambh.
  • Ashok Stambh of Sarnath is accepted as the national emblem of India.
  • Ashoka had built many pillars, rock edicts like Bharhut stupa, Dhamek Stupa, and Mahabodhi Temple.
  • He is best known for his renunciation of war after the war of Kalinga (261 BC).

• Maurya dynasty was established by Ashoka's grandfather Chandragupta Maurya.
  • Chandragupta defeated the last ruler of the Nanda dynasty, Dhana Nand in 321 BC.
  • The capital of the Mauryan empire was Magadha.
  • He signed a treaty with Seleucus Nicator acquiring Baluchistan, eastern Afghanistan and the region to the west of Indus In 305 BC.
  • He married Nicator's daughter.
  • Megasthenes was the Greek ambassador at Chandragupta’s court.
  • He reigned from 321 BC to 297 BC.
  • He abdicated the throne for Bindusara and went to Karnataka with Jain monk Bhadrabahu.
• Bindusara
  • Son of Chandragupta.
  • He ruled from 297 BC to 273 BC.
  • He is called Amitraghata (Slayer of foes).
  • Deimachus was a Greek ambassador at his court.