Down the lanes of history if we try and find the names of
the greatest rulers who bestowed the human gown one name stands clearly apart.
The Devanampiya or the one loved by God, the third ruler
of the Maurya Clan - Asoka.
Asoka is considered as the greatest or at least different
amongst the greatest as in an era where other rulers conquered by mass murder
and brutal force he did it with love and peace. He believed in winning the
hearts of the people than winning the land. He is the one ruler who conquered no man but himself.
But all of this is one side of the story. The other side is
rather brutal and blood-fed. Buddhist legends
state that Asoka was bad-tempered and of a wicked nature. As the legend has it he went on to fight some
of the mightiest battles in the history of mankind including the famous battle
of Kalinga where about 300,000 soldiers, commoners, peasants even females and
children we killed while they fought for their honour in the hour of defeat. Not
just them Asoka is also said to have killed his brothers to bestow upon the
throne. After such brutal slaughter of mankind so many lives lost Asoka was
being termed as Chandal Asoka (the fierce ruler). Then what happened that the history
forgave him for? After all the man slaughter he had done why was he not
criticised in the pages of history? Why is he Asoka the Great but not Asoka the
Cruel Fanatic?
Well may be that’s because he realised his path was wrong. The
way in which he tried to conquer the world was not humane and this gave rise to
Devanampiya – the beloved of God. He preached Buddhism within his territory and
beyond. Gave up the expansion of his kingdom through warfare. Showed the path
of Dhamma to the people and suddenly he was loved by all. Due to his good deeds
all seem to have forgiven him. The time in history, the people, The God all of
them started loving him and he became the greatest ruler of the era.
Thus was the journey from Chand Asoka to Devanampiya and the
world remembers him as a star that shines brightest amongst the hundreds and
thousands of kings who crowd the pages of history.
Years passed by and another man came into existence. A brat,
Bad boy in the society who creates menace, breaks laws, is in the news for all
the wrong reasons. The world hates him like never before. People say he is a
threat to the society, a man who repeatedly abuses his power and position.
Knowingly or unknowingly is getting into one thing or another. Is said to be
bad tempered and wicked.
But then comes a transformation. He goes out of his way to
help not just his close associates, family and friends but humans in general. Donates a big chunk of his income to the needy. Starts preaching among his fans and followers to help others. Shows the path of Being Human. All of a sudden perceptions
change. Over the time people start loving him. The Bad boy becomes the Giver.
He becomes popular all across the globe for his
humanitarian activities.This guy who was alleged for killing people,
breaking laws abusing his power emerges as a
man with a Golden heart.
But still there are many who believe he should not be
forgiven, who believe his misdeeds should be paid for. Will his good deeds win
over his bad past? Will he be forgiven? History
is believed to repeat itself. Do I take this as an example? Time will tell. Though I am not comparing the two, they are not far apart.
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