Head of Sri Lankan Buddhist group calls on Modi to rule India like Ashoka

[paranoiarocks]

Rule India like Cakkavatti Dharmasoka – Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka Appeals to Narendra Modi
Posted on May 24th, 2014
Senaka Weeraratna
In a congratulatory message addressed to Shri Narendra Modi, Ven. Banagala Upatissa Nayaka Thero, President, Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka, has while noting with supreme joy that Shri Modi has been the first leader of modern India to represent the timeless and ancient city of Varanasi in the Lok Sabha, called on Shri Modi to lead India like the great Cakkavatti Emperor Ashoka and in a manner that will illuminate our part of the world as it did in Ashokan times.

Ashoka

Narendra Modi


In offering prayers for the success of Narendra Modi’s epochal mission of heralding India to new heights in global leadership similar or on par with that attained by Ashoka, who ushered in the first state in world history dedicated to rule by righteousness over 2300 years ago.

Ven.Banagala Upatissa Nayaka Thero concludes his brief message by

invoking the blessings in the verse Devo Wassathu Kalena” being blessings to the world – and blessings that have withstood the test of time in Sinhala Buddhist culture beginning from the time of the Anuradhapura era.

Cakkavatti (pali) or Chakravartin / Chakraborty (sanskrit) basically means the ideal universal ruler, who rules ethically and benevolently over the entire world. It has also been interpreted as “through whom the wheel is moving” or ‘wheel turner’ in the meaning of “through whom the Dharmacakra (“Wheel of the Dharma) is turning” (most commonly used in Buddhism and Hinduism).

Dharmashoka is the best example of a Cakkavatti ruler.

A Chakravatin (possibly Ashoka the Great), 1st century BCE/CE. Andhra Pradesh, Amaravati. Preserved at Musee Guimet.

Upon his conversion to Buddhism, Ashoka dedicated himself to the propagation of Buddhism across Asia. Ashoka saw in Buddhism a highly enlightened metaphysical doctrine that could also address moral and ethical concerns of society and serve as a cultural basis for the political unity of India and Asia.

• Ashoka is also referred to as Samraat Chakravartin – the ‘ Emperor of Emperors Ashoka’. His name ‘ ashoka’ means “painless, without sorrow“.
• The noted writer H.G. Wells referred to Ashoka in his book ‘ The Outline of History’ as follows:
• “Amidst the tens of thousands of names of monarchs that crowd the columns of history, their majesties and graciousnesses and serenities and royal highnesses and the like, the name of Ashoka shines, and shines, almost alone, like a star.”

• Senaka Weeraratna
  
  
  
  

LankaWeb – Rule India like Cakkavatti Dharmasoka – Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka Appeals to Narendra Modi

 

[Kompromat]

Didn't Ashoka become a buddhist?

 

[AUz]

So in essence, he is asking Modi to become Buddhist?

Modi should convert to Islam and make India an Islamic state..that would be the best thing.

 

[janon]

No, don't. Ashoka was an emperor, Modi is a PM. PMs should not behave like monarchs - we want a democratic republic, not a monarchy.

 

[Water Car Engineer]

Looks like some folks down south got on the hype wagon.

And Ashoka was barbaric lunatic before he converted to Buddhism. He probably continued to be a barbaric lunatic after wards too.

 

[janon]

Didn't Ashoka become a buddhist?

Yes, and it was his patronage that led to the very wide spread of Buddhism. The entire subcontinent and many parts of south and east Asia became Buddhist, until the subcontinent again reverted to hinduism later. But the influence of Buddhism runs deep in the hinduism that followed.

 

[paranoiarocks]

Didn't Ashoka become a buddhist?

Buddhism and Hinduism are quite similar in basic philosophy,actually many in india considered themselves both pre arabic invaders .

 

[Chinese-Dragon]

Buddhism and Hinduism are quite similar in basic philosophy.

Yep, check it out:

 

[Kompromat]

Yes, and it was his patronage that led to the very wide spread of Buddhism. The entire subcontinent and many parts of south and east Asia became Buddhist, until the subcontinent again reverted to hinduism later. But the influence of Buddhism runs deep in the hinduism that followed.

I've also read that he renounced violence and war after he became a buddhist, is it true?

 

[manlion]

Cakkavatti (pali) or Chakravartin / Chakraborty (sanskrit) basically means the ideal universal ruler,

didn't know Sinhala Buddhist clergy had so much influence in Indian politics, in other words the Sinhala Buddhist clergy is calling for the expansion of the India empire under 'Cakkavatti' Modi

 

[janon]

I've also read that he renounced violence and war after he became a buddhist, is it true?

That's what the popular legends about him say. The apocryphal story goes like this:

Emperor Ashoka had just emerged victorious in the Kalinga war (one of the bloodiest in human history, fought between the Mauryan empire and the feudal republic of Kalinga in modern day Odisha.) When he saw the death and destruction, he felt bad and told the widows of Kalinga that he would grant them any wish. One of the women asked him if he could bring her dead husband back to life. Then it struck him that his powers on earth were rather limited, and he started musing about his life. He found solace in Buddhist philosophies, and converted into Buddhism.

The story may very well be a fabricated myth. But it is a fact that he became Buddhist, and because of the power and extent of the Maurya empire, the religion spread across the continent.

 

[SarthakGanguly]

I've also read that he renounced violence and war after he became a buddhist, is it true?

That is correct. His transformation from Chandashok to Dharmashok is well documented. If that is a myth we can't help. Sounds nice though.

 

[Kompromat]

That's what the popular legends about him say. The apocryphal story goes like this:

Emperor Ashoka had just emerged victorious in the Kalinga war (one of the bloodiest in human history, fought between the Mauryan empire and the feudal republic of Kalinga in modern day Odisha.) When he saw the death and destruction, he felt bad and told the widows of Kalinga that he would grant them any wish. One of the women asked him if he could bring her dead husband back to life. Then it struck him that his powers on earth were rather limited, and he started musing about his life. He found solace in Buddhist philosophies, and converted into Buddhism.

The story may very well be a fabricated myth. But it is a fact that he became Buddhist, and because of the power and extent of the Maurya empire, the religion spread across the continent.

Even if its all a myth, had the humans learned this lesson from this epic, there would have been no world wars. War is nothing but organized mass murder, when men who have no personal rivalry are made to kill each other.

 

[Tshering22]

No way!!! Ashoka's pacifism, saintliness and self-imposed guilt made him so weak that his empire collapsed.

Not in hell.

He should rule like Chandragupta Maurya. The conqueror. The bringer of justice. The leader of the people. The destroyer of those who invaded India then.

 

[jandk]

No way!!! Ashoka's pacifism, saintliness and self-imposed guilt made him so weak that his empire collapsed.

Not in hell.

He should rule like Chandragupta Maurya. The conqueror. The bringer of justice. The leader of the people. The destroyer of those who invaded India then.

Very well put. 100 % agreed