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Which Pali chronicle of Sri Lanka contains an account of the Mauryan emperor Ashoka and is an important source for his life?

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Answer: Option C — Mahavamsa

Detailed Solution

The "Mahavamsa" ("Great Chronicle"), a Pali chronicle of Sri Lanka, contains a detailed account of the Mauryan emperor Ashoka, and is an important literary source for his life.

About the Mahavamsa:

  • It was composed in Pali verse in the 5th or 6th century CE, by a Buddhist monk named Mahanama, at the Mahavihara monastery in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.
  • It narrates the history of Sri Lanka from the legendary arrival of Prince Vijaya (from India) to the reign of King Mahasena (4th century CE).
  • It also includes an account of the Buddha, the Buddhist councils, and the Mauryan kings of India.

Its account of Ashoka:

  • It describes Ashoka's early life, his accession to the throne, his conversion to Buddhism, and his support for the Sangha.
  • It says that Ashoka killed his brothers to become king, and was called "Chandashoka" (Ashoka the fierce) before he became "Dharmashoka" (Ashoka the righteous).
  • It describes the Third Buddhist Council at Pataliputra and the sending of missionaries.

It describes the spread of Buddhism to the island, and the planting of a sapling of the Bodhi tree at Anuradhapura; this tree (the "Sri Maha Bodhi") still exists and is considered one of the oldest living trees planted by humans.

Other Sri Lankan chronicles:

  • "Dipavamsa" ("Island Chronicle"): an earlier chronicle (4th century CE), with similar content.
  • "Chulavamsa": a later continuation of the Mahavamsa.

Other sources on Ashoka:

  • His own inscriptions (edicts) are the most important source.
  • The "Ashokavadana" and "Divyavadana" (Sanskrit, northern Buddhist texts).
  • The Puranas, which list the Mauryan kings.

How historians use them:

Historians compare these chronicles with inscriptions, as the chronicles include legends and religious exaggeration.

Why not the other options?

  • ✗The Rajatarangini is a chronicle of another region.
  • ✗The Ashokavadana is a Sanskrit text about Ashoka from the northern tradition, not a Sri Lankan chronicle.
  • ✗The Harshacharita is a biography of Harshavardhana.

Quick tip

Remember: Mahavamsa (Pali, Sri Lanka, by Mahanama) = account of Ashoka (Chandashoka to Dharmashoka); Dipavamsa = earlier; Chulavamsa = later; Sri Maha Bodhi at Anuradhapura.

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Buddhism & Jainism — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of Buddhism & Jainism, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

Buddhism and Jainism arose in the 6th century BCE as reform movements. This topic covers the lives and teachings of Gautama Buddha and Mahavira, the Jain tirthankaras, the Buddhist councils, the sects of both religions, their sacred texts and the places linked to them. Common questions cover the four great events of the Buddha's life and their places (birth at Lumbini, enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, first sermon at Sarnath, death at Kushinagar), the four Buddhist councils with their kings and venues, and the Jain sects Digambara and Shvetambara. Learning the councils as a table of place, king and president is the fastest way to revise. Practise the Buddhism and Jainism questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.

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