{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}} Vitashoka as called in Divyavadana or Tissa (born 3rd-century BC) was a prince of the Maurya Empire as the only uterine of Ashoka.[1] and the only brother left alive by Ashoka. According to Divyavadana he was a follower of the Tirthikas and used to criticize the Buddhist monks for living a comfortable life. He was made to sit on the throne by the courtiers. When Ashoka found out about that, he persuaded Vitashoka to become a Buddhist.
Vitashoka became a monk and practiced austerities rigorously.
Divyavadana narrates a story of someone in Pundravardhana and then again at Patliputra, drew a picture of the Buddha bowing before Nirgrantha Nataputta. As a punishment Ashoka ordered the Ajivikas[2] to be put to death and declared a reward for killing of Nirgranthas. Someone killed Vitashoka taking him to be a Nirgrantha. His head was taken to Ashoka. After identifying that it was his own brother, Ashoka stopped giving orders for executions.
He is referred to as Tissa in Srilanka chronicles.[3][4] Theragatha commentary[5] regards Tissa and Vitashoka as different individuals.
References [link]
- ↑ The Legend of King Aśoka: A Study and Translation of the Aśokāvadāna,John Strong, Motilal Banarsidass Publ., 1989, p. 222-234
- ↑ Divyavadana apparently equates the Nirgranthas and Ajivikas here.
- ↑ Yuan Chwang's travels in India Volumes 14-15 of Oriental Translation Fund Volume 2 of On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629-645 A.D, Stephen Wootton Bushell Authors Thomas Watters, Vincent Arthur Smith Editors Thomas William Rhys Davids, Stephen Wootton Bushell Royal Asiatic Society, 1905 p. 95
- ↑ Asoka, the Buddhist Emperor of India, Volume 28 Volume 29 of Rulers of India, Asoka, the Buddhist emperor of India, Vincent Arthur Smith, Edition 2, Clarendon Press, 1901, p. 162
- ↑ Asoka, Radhakumud Mookerji, Edition 3, Motilal Banarsidass, 1995, p.7
