Taxila was an ancient city in the northwest of India, located in what is now Pakistan. It was a center of learning, trade, and culture, and attracted students and scholars from all over the world. Taxila was also a strategic location on the Royal Highway that connected the Mauryan capital at Pataliputra with ancient Peshawar and Central Asia.
Taxila witnessed many changes of rulers and dynasties over the centuries, from the Achaemenids to the Indo-Greeks to the Kushans. But perhaps the most significant period in its history was when it came under the rule of Ashoka, the last major emperor of the Mauryan dynasty.
Ashoka was the grandson of Chandragupta Maurya, who founded the first pan-Indian empire in the 4th century BCE. Ashoka inherited a vast territory that stretched from Afghanistan to Bengal. He was a powerful and ambitious ruler who expanded his domain through conquest and diplomacy. He was also a devout follower of Buddhism, which he embraced after a bloody war with the Kalinga kingdom on the east coast.
Ashoka’s conquest of Kalinga in 261 BCE was one of the most brutal wars in ancient history. According to his own edicts, he killed or captured more than 100,000 people and caused immense suffering and destruction. The sight of the carnage and misery moved him to such remorse that he renounced armed conquests and adopted a policy of “conquest by dharma”, or righteous principles.
Ashoka became a benevolent and compassionate ruler who dedicated himself to the welfare of his subjects and all living beings. He promoted Buddhism as a universal religion of peace and tolerance, but also respected other faiths and sects. He built stupas, monasteries, hospitals, roads, wells, and rest houses throughout his empire. He also sent missionaries to spread his message of dharma to neighboring regions and beyond.
One of the places where Ashoka’s influence was most visible was Taxila. He made it a great seat of Buddhist learning and patronized many scholars and teachers. He also built several monuments and inscriptions in and around the city. One of his most famous edicts was carved on a rock near Taxila, where he declared his commitment to nonviolence, justice, generosity, and harmony.
Ashoka’s reign marked a golden age for Taxila, which flourished as a hub of culture, commerce, and education. It attracted students from as far as China, Greece, Persia, and Sri Lanka, who came to study various subjects such as medicine, astronomy, mathematics, philosophy, art, and religion. Some of the famous teachers who taught at Taxila were Panini, the grammarian; Charaka, the physician; Kautilya, the economist; and Nagarjuna, the philosopher.
Taxila’s glory lasted for several centuries after Ashoka’s death in 232 BCE. It continued to be a center of learning under the Indo-Greek, Indo-Scythian, Parthian, and Kushan rulers. However, it also faced invasions and raids from various enemies such as the Sakas, the Huns, and the Sassanians. By the 5th century CE, Taxila was largely abandoned and destroyed by the Huns.
Today, Taxila is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that preserves the remains of its ancient civilization. It is a testament to the legacy of Ashoka and his vision of dharma that shaped the history and culture of India and beyond.