Kalinga War facts for kids

The Kalinga War was a big war fought a long time ago in ancient India. It happened between the powerful Maurya Empire and a kingdom called Kalinga. Kalinga was important because it controlled special trade routes that connected India to places in Southeast Asia. This made it a valuable place to control.

Ashoka, the mighty king of the Mauryan Empire, wanted to make his empire even bigger and stronger. So, he decided to capture Kalinga. In 262 BC, he led his huge army to Kalinga to fight.

According to an ancient Greek historian named Megasthenes, the ruler of Kalinga had a very strong army. It included many foot soldiers, horse riders, and elephants.

Ashoka's Change of Heart

Even though Ashoka won the war, he saw how terrible it was. He saw a lot of bloodshed and how much the families of the soldiers suffered. This made him realize that war was pointless and brought only pain.

A Vow for Peace

After the Kalinga War, Ashoka made a promise. He vowed never to fight another war again. He decided to follow the teachings of Buddhism, a religion that teaches peace and kindness. He spent the rest of his life helping his people instead of conquering new lands.

Spreading Dhamma

Ashoka wanted his son and grandson to also avoid war. He decided to follow something called Dhamma. Dhamma is like a common code of good behavior and moral rules. He was inspired by the teachings of Buddha. To share these peaceful ideas, he sent many Buddhist teachers to faraway lands. They helped spread the message of Dhamma to other parts of the world.

Images for kids

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  A view of the banks of the Daya River, which is thought to be where the Kalinga War was fought. This is from atop Dhauli hills in Bhubaneswar, Odisha State.

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  The Shanti Stupa, or Peace Pagoda, on Dhauli hill. This area is believed to be where the Kalinga War took place.

See also

In Spanish: Guerra de Kalinga para niños