Question

Which of the following kings embraced Buddism after the Kalinga war?
1. Bindusara
2. Rashtrakoota
3. Ashoka
4. Akbar

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : Ashoka

The correct answer is Ashoka.

• Ashoka adopted Buddhism after observing the brutality of the Kalinga War.
• The Kalinga war was the most famous war fought between the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka the Great and the State of Kalinga.
• Ashoka embraced Buddhism under the influence of a Buddhist monk, Upagupta.
• Kalinga war was a horrifying event as mentioned in the 13th Rock Edict of Ashoka.

• Ashoka was the son of Bindusara. He was the governor of Taxila and Ujjain during his father’s reign. 
• Ashoka sat on the throne around 268 B.C after successfully defeating his brothers.
• Ashoka’s mother’s name was Subhadrangi. His wife’s name was Devi or Vedisa who was a princess of Ujjaini.

Kings	Important Points
Bindusara	Bindusara was the son of Chandragupta Maurya and Durdhara. He was born in 320 BC and ruled from 298 BC to 272 BC. Bindusara also had contact with the Seleucid Syrian king Antiochus I, who sent Deimachus as ambassador to his (Bindusara) court.
Rashtrakoota	The Rashtrakutas (755 - 975 A.D.) were of Kannada origin and the Kannada language was their mother tongue. Dantidurga was the founder of the Rashtrakuta dynasty.
Akbar	Akbar ruled India from 1556 to 1605 AD. He was the son of Humayun, who ruled over India for 26 years. In 1582, he promulgated a new religion called Din Ilahi or Divine Faith. He abolished the pilgrim tax and in 1562, he abolished jaziya.