Mother of Ashoka
| Shubhadrangi | |
|---|---|
| Spouse | Bindusara |
| Issue | Ashoka |
| House | Maurya |
Subhadrangi (also known as Dharma or Janapadakalyani) was, according to Buddhist sources, the wife of the Mauryan emperor, Bindusara and the mother of his successor, Ashoka. The Ashokavadana states that Subhadrangi was from the city of Champa and was the daughter of a Ajivika Brahmin. The legends state that palace politics kept her away from Bindusara and when she finally gained access to him and bore him a son, she is said to have exclaimed, "I am now without sorrow", which led to the child being named Ashoka. The name of her second son, Vitashoka (meaning sorrow terminated) has a similar provenance.[1]: 332 [2]
The Divyavadana calls her Dharma while the Vamsatthapakasini, a 10th-century commentary on the Mahavamsa,[1]: 321 names her as Janapadakalyani.[1]: 332
References
- ^ a b c Singh, Upinder (2008). A history of ancient and early medieval India : from the Stone Age to the 12th century. New Delhi: Pearson Education. pp. 321–332. ISBN 9788131711200. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
- ^ Thapar, Romila (1961). Aśoka and the decline of the Mauryas (2nd ed.). New Delhi: Oxford University Press. p. 21. Retrieved 8 September 2015.