Subhadrangi (also known as Dharma or Janapadakalyani) was, according to Buddhist sources, a wife of the Mauryan emperor, Bindusara and the mother of his successor, Ashoka. The Ashokavadana states that Subhadrangi was the daughter of a Brahmin from the city of Champa. The legends state that palace politics kept her away from Bindusara and when she finally gained access to him and bore him a son, she is said to have exclaimed, "I am now without sorrow", which led to the child being named Ashoka. The name of her second son, Vitashoka (meaning sorrow terminated) has a similar provenance.
The Divyavadana calls her Dharma while the Vamsatthapakasini, a 10th-century commentary on the Mahavamsa,[ names her as Janapadakalyani.[
Ashoka's mother Subhadrangi was just another wife of Bindusar. She was neither Bindusar's favorite wife nor the love of his life.. She was the daughter of a Brahmin family in Champa city of Telengana region. Some say that Champa now known as Champaran was in Bihar. But one thing is sure that she was from Brahamin community.
She had two sons. Astrologer had predicted, while she was young that she would marry to a emperor and she would have two sons. One would become a famous emperor and would rule the entire continent. Other would adorn spirituality to attain nirvana. Her Brahamin father had offered her to King Bindusar as his wife.
She was highly beauty and that was the cause for jealous of other wives of Bindusar.
Also, as per legend, Chandragupta Maurya believed that his beloved son Bindusara would never be a great Samrat because he never loved anything passionately - neither the empire, religion nor his wives. This makes it clear that Bindusar had no favorite wife as such.
Ajvikas were the heterodox during the Mauryan Empire. They were the wandering ascetics. Though they were atheistic they prayed Shiva and Vishnu. It is interesting to note that Samrat Bindusar did not follow Jainism like his father Chandragupta Maurya, but believed in the Ajvika sect which was followed by his queen Subhadrangi as well.
While the exact story is not known, legend illustrates that Ashoka's mother was away from the Palace of Pataliaputra because of the scheming that was going in and around the Palace. However, her wait ended after which she gave birth to a son. The moment her son was born she said now I'm shoka mukt (devoid of any sorrow now) - This is how her son was named as Ashoka. Ashoka was born in the palace
Different text and chronicles call Ashoka's mother by various names. While, she is mainly known by her name Subhadrangi as per Avadana text, the Divyavadana call her by name Janapadakalyani. , Bindusar is seen addressing her as Dharma which is also one of her names. In addition, she is also known as Queen Aggamahesi.
. She died after Ashoka's marriage. Sushum who was a royal king of Mauryan Empire, came to kill Devi (Ashoka's wife) and Devi was saved by Subhadrangi and instead she died. He came to kill Devi because prophecy was that her son will conquer Ceylon.
Shubhadrangi was killed by Sushim's men in a vigilante attack. Her death caused ashoka to go mad with grief and become cruel and vengeful till the massacre caused by the war on Kalinga knocked some sense in him.
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