Devi (full name: Vedisa-Mahadevi Sakyakumari) was, according to theCeylonese chronicles, the first wife of the third Mauryan emperor Ashoka. She was also the mother of Ashoka's first two children"his son, Mahendra, and daughter, Sanghamitra"both of whom played important roles in the spread of Buddhism to other countries. She is also remembered for the Sanchi Stupa.(source-wikipedia) Devi was born in the year of 302 B.C in sanchi in a sakya clan to a wealthy merchant daughter who by then converted into Buddhism.devi is known for her matchless beauty and soft and kind nature.she loved to serve old Buddhist monks and is known for her kind nature. Ashoka when he was 18 was sent to curb raising revolt in ujjain, by that time he was popularly known as cruel general. He had halted in sanchi to replenish his supplies,when the people of town got to know about his halt they arranged a feast on his honor.This is where he met her first.one version says when ashoka was hunting he was stopped by a beautiful young girl and stopped him bravely killing an innocent animal.another version states during his halt in sanchi he was attended by devi personally,whom he fell in love at first sight.both versions states he fell in love with her.he had then asked her father her hand in marriage,which was accepted by her father ,but was rejected by devi.she stated two reasons for that one was his different cast,another he was known for his cruel nature.ashok was taken back by this refusal, but decides not to provoke his demonic side and silently lefts to ujjain.on his return journey ashoka was attacked by his enemies ,he managed to defeat them all but lefts badly injured.he was rescued by buddhist monks,devi who frequently visits buddhist monks gets to know the attack on ashoka,devi then starts to serve him personally.at this time time devi gets to know real ashok behind the mask of cruel general and fell in love with him.both gets married and arrivves to pataliputra.bindusar doesn't accept this marriage because of her non royal lineage.it's only dharma who accepts her whole heartedly.people in imperial palace and royal authorities constantly insults her because of her cast.devi gets terrified seeing all this.during her stay in pataliputra a buddhist monk visits royal court and made a prophesy that ashoka and devi son 'll conquer the land in overseas which s lanka which was mpossible that time.This changes bindhusar attitude towards her.sushim the crown Prince set his eyes on her seeing her matchless beauty,who lefts badly injured by ashoka.bindhusar appoints ashok as ujjain viceory ,he then lefts with devi and his mother to ujjain.in ujjain both lives happily for some years.soon devi becomes very popular among people because of her caring , kind and serving nature.she was known to be her charitable nature and construction of many hospitals and vihars.when sushim gets to know about devi was pregnant fearing of prophecy he sent people to kill her,dharma rescues her getting hurt but she gets killed.people says this was the turning point of ashoka chand avtar.devi soon gives birth to his first son whom he names' Mahendra ' meaning conquer of world,after two years she gives birth to sanghamitra.ashok then goes to pataliputra leaving her in ujjain, after bindusar death and massive blood shed of his brothers he ascends the throne.he sends letter to devi she refuses to join him because of his cruel nature.devi broughts up both her children away from royal politics instilling buddhist principles.on hearing about his marraiges and concubines she gets deeply hurt,as buddhists r strictly monogamists and refuse to join him back and brought up her children alone.after kaling war ashok starts taking solace in Buddhism and starts visit buddhist monasteries,hearing about his changed heart she joins ashoka and helps him establishing dharm,sanghamitra his daughter married to ashoka nephew agnibrahma and stayed with him in his palace.Even though he wants his eldest son to succeed him,mahendras own lack of interest and fearing of royal conspiracy as he was the son of buddhist mother,he decides otherwise and makes kunala as his heir.sanchi stupa which was very famous in ashoka life was constructed in sanchi which was devi birth place and was given the responsibility of overlooking the construction.and she s known for the construction of mahavihar also.both her children are very famous in lanka and are renowed children of ashoka.mahendra led first ever buddhist missionarie group to lanka and makes the lanka people to convert into Buddhism thus making the prophesy true,he conquer lanka without bloodshed.he then sent word for her sister to join him,ashoka dnt wants his daughter to go away from him,but seeing the need devi makes him understand and allows her to join her brother .devi children helps ashoka to spread Buddhism,devi herself plays a pivotal role in both chand ashoka and dharma ashoka.devi s known for her strong,selfmade,intellectual,caring,kind nature.she invested all her welth on serving people,construction of hospital s and vihars.all her life she traveled between pataliputra,ujjain and sanchi.devi ashoka's first wife mother of his children plays pivotal role in ashoka life and was known for her kind nature.
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Edited by _Ecstasy_ - 9 years ago
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