Ashoka fought the Kalinga war in 261 BC. After the battle of Kalinga, he became a Buddhist; shocked by the horrors of the war he replaced Bherighosha by Dhammaghosha. He implemented principles of ahimsa by banning hunting and violent sports activity. Over forty years of peace, harmony, and prosperity made Ashoka one of the most successful and famous monarchs in Indian history.

Ashoka was initiated by Buddhism by Upagupta or Nigrodha, a discipline of Buddha. For the propagation of Buddhism, Ashoka started the institution of Dharmamahamatras. He held the third Buddhist council at his capital Patliputra in 250 BC under the presidentship of Moggaliputta-Tissa. He sent his son and daughter to Sri Lanka and Nepal. He is known as ‘Constantine of Buddhism’.