Asandhimitra | |
---|---|
Empress Consort of Maurya Dynasty | |
Wife of Ashoka | |
Spouse | Emperor Ashoka The Great |
Dynasty | Maurya |
Religion | Buddhism |
Asandhamitra was an empress and 1st chief consort of the Mauryan emperor Ashoka The Great. She was Ashoka's second wife and first empress consort[1][2]
Given the title "agramahisi", or "Chief Empress",[3] Asandhimitra was likely from a royal family.[2] She did not have any children.[2] After her death, Tishyarakshita became the chief empress of Ashoka.[1]
According to Maha Bodhi Society, she was married to Ashoka during c. 270-240 BC.[3] She was a trusted, faithful, and favourite wife of Ashoka. She is often referred to as his "beloved" or his "dear" consort and is said to have been a trusted adviser of the emperor.[3][2] At her death in c. 240 BC,[3] Ashoka was deeply grieved.[2]
The Mahavamsa tells a legend of how she became empress, stating that she became Ashoka's empress because in a previous life, she had given directions to a pratyekabuddha who was looking for a honey merchant. The story says that after the merchant filled his bowl completely with honey, the pratyekabuddha made a vow to become the lord of Jambudvipa. After hearing this, she herself wished they would be reborn as King and Queen, leading them to be reborn as Ashoka and Asandhimitra.[4]
In the Extended Mahavamsa, a story is additionally told that in a separate past life, Asandhimitra gave a pratyekabuddha a piece of cloth, which is thought to have given her the status of Queen, karmically independent of Asoka.[4]
In the Dasavatthuppakarana, it combines both stories into one, telling the story of the pratyekabuddha and the honey merchant and adding that Asandhimitra's past self gifted the same pratyekabuddha with a piece of cloth.[4]