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==Early life== |
==Early life== |
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According to biographical accounts contained in [[Sanskrit]] contained in the [[Indian people|Indian]] [[Sanskrit]] works called "[[Ashokavadana]]" and "Kunalavadana", Emperor [[Ashoka]] was blessed with a heroic son. Kunala was the son of [[Ashoka]] and [[Padmavati (wife of Ashoka)|Padmavati]]. Kunala's beauteous eyes (even as a newborn infant) attracted his father's attention. On enquiring his ministers whether anyone had seen such beautiful eyes before, one of them replied that such mesmerizing eyes were only possessed by a bird in the [[Himalayas]] called "Kunala", and so as per traditions, the infant was named "Kunala." Alternative interpretations of the name include "One who sees beauty in everything" and "One who has beautiful eyes."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bharat's Military Conquests In Foreign Lands |url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/156712666-bharat-s-military-conquests-in-foreign-lands |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=Goodreads |language=en|page=25}}</ref> |
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At the age of eight, Ashok sent his son to [[Ujjain]], to be brought up and carry out his princely education, to become the heir to the throne of the [[Mauryan Empire]].{{citation needed|date=November 2015}} |
At the age of eight, Ashok sent his son to [[Ujjain]], to be brought up and carry out his princely education, to become the heir to the throne of the [[Mauryan Empire]].{{citation needed|date=November 2015}} |
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== Takshashila revolt == |
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Emperor [[Ashoka]] looked for a capable general who could put down the revolt at [[Takshashila]] with an iron hand. In the past, [[Ashoka]] as a young prince was once posted to put down a rebellion there. [[Ashoka|Ashoka's]] ambitious son (Kunala) decided to to take on the task in order to showcase his ability as a prince who can govern and protect the Empire's subjects. Also this was to give a message to his rival claimants of the [[Mauryan Empire]]. [[Ashoka]] too realized his son's ambitions and encouraged him to fulfil it. As the [[Ashokavadana]] puts it: |
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{{quote|"Then understanding of the one he called his son, and realizing how he was bound by affection, the king ordered him (Kunala) to go on the expedition while he himself stayed at home..."}} |
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All the sources on the life of Kunala – [[Indian people|Indian]], [[Tibetan]], [[Chinese]] and [[Tocharian]] unanimously declares that Kunala was extremely successful in putting down the rebellion/revolt at [[Takshashila]]. He also accepted viceroyalty of the North Western regions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bharat's Military Conquests In Foreign Lands |url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/156712666-bharat-s-military-conquests-in-foreign-lands |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=Goodreads |language=en|page=27}}</ref> |
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==Blinding== |
==Blinding== |
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Revision as of 23:05, 13 March 2024
| Kunala | |
|---|---|
| Crown prince of the Maurya Empire | |
| Predecessor | Crown Prince Susima |
| Successor | Emperor Samprati Maurya (as Crown Prince) |
| Born | 263 BC[1] |
| Spouse | Crown Princess Kanchanamala |
| Issue | Emperor Samprati Maurya |
| Dynasty | Maurya |
| Father | Ashoka |
| Mother | Padmavati |
Kunala (IAST: Kuṇāla) (263 BC – ?) was the Crown Prince and second son of 3rd Mauryan Emperor Ashoka and Empress Padmavati[2] and the presumptive heir to Ashoka, thus the heir to the Mauryan Empire which once ruled almost all of the Indian subcontinent. After the departure of Mahendra, Ashoka's eldest son, he was supposed to be the heir to the empire, but was blinded by his step-mother, Tishyaraksha, at a young age in jealousy. While he was not able to take the throne, his son, Samprati, became his heir.
Kunala also served as the Viceroy of Taxila during the reign of his father, having been appointed to the position in 235 BCE.[1]
Significance of name
Kunal also means "bird with beautiful eyes", "someone who sees beauty in everything" or "one with beautiful eyes".[3]
Early life
At the age of eight, Ashok sent his son to Ujjain, to be brought up and carry out his princely education, to become the heir to the throne of the Mauryan Empire.[citation needed]
Blinding
When the prince was eight years old, the emperor wrote (in Prakrit) to the tutors and mentioned the word: Adheetaam - Meaning "He(Kunala) must study"(Context: Kunala should begin his studies). [3] One of Ashoka's wives who wanted to secure the succession to her own son, being then present, took up the letter to read it. She secretly put a dot over the letter 'a', which changed the word to Andheetaam - Meaning "He (Kunala) must be blinded". Without rereading the letter, the emperor sealed and dispatched it. The clerk in Ujjayini was so shocked by the contents of this letter that he was unable to read it aloud to the prince. Kunala, therefore, seized the letter and read the cruel sentence of his father. Considering that as yet no Maurya prince had disobeyed the chief of the house, and unwilling to set a bad example, he stoutly put out his eyesight with a hot iron".[3]
Alternatively, some stories explain that Kunala had been sent to Taxila to put down a rebellion, which he managed to do peacefully. But he was similarly blinded through the treacherousness of Ashoka's wife Tishyaraksha.[3]
It is said by some scholars that the letter was sent to Kunal; not believing it, Kunal went to his father. This made Emperor Ashoka angry, finding out that his wife had changed the letter, he sentenced her to death. Kunal then became heir to the throne of Mauryan Empire. It is uncertain whether this is true.[citation needed]
Attempts to claim throne
Years later Kunala came to Ashoka's court dressed as a minstrel accompanied by his favourite wife Kanchanmala. When he greatly pleased the emperor by his music, the emperor wanted to reward him. At this, the minstrel revealed himself as prince Kunala and demanded his inheritance. Ashoka sadly objected that being blind, Kunala never could ascend the throne. Thereupon the latter said that he claimed the empire not for himself but for his son. "When," cried the emperor, "has a son been born to you?" "Samprati" (meaning "Just now") was the answer. Samprati accordingly was the name given to Kunala's son, and though a baby, he was appointed Ashoka's successor. However, when Ashoka died, Samprati was too young to rule. Therefore, Ashoka was succeeded by another, older grandson, Dasharatha. After the demise of Dasharatha, Samprati did indeed become Emperor.[3]
It is said that Prince Kunala established a kingdom in the Mithila region on the Indo-Nepal Border. It might be the same place where the present village, Kunauli (earlier known as Kunal Gram) at the bank of Kosi river on the Indo-Nepal Border is situated. There are some historical and archaeological evidences to support this claim.[citation needed]
Portrayal in popular media
A semi-fictionalized portrayal of Kunal's life was produced as a motion picture under the title Veer Kunal (1941). Ashok Kumar, a Tamil film was produced in 1941 based on the life of Kunal.[4]
See also
References
- ^ a b Mookerji, Radhakumud (1995). Aśoka (3. rev. ed., repr ed.). Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 45,124. ISBN 9788120805828.
- ^ Lahiri, Nayanjot (2015). Ashoka in Ancient India. Harvard University Press. p. 284. ISBN 978-0674057777.
- ^ a b c d e Strong, John S. (1989). The legend of King Aśoka : a study and translation of the Aśokāvadāna. Princeton: Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-01459-0.
- ^ Rajadhyaksha & Willemen 1998, p. 288.