भारतीय इतिहास के ६ स्वर्णिम पृष्ठ (वीर सावरकर - विदेशी आक्रान्ताओं पर विजय गाथा)

to the throne of Magadha to the time when Ashoka courted Buddhism and even his death, i.e. for about a hundred years, no enemy from the outside world could give any kind of offence to this all India Maurya Empire, either by land or sea, or by crossing any frontier whatsoever! Ashoka the Holy! 149. Samrat Bindusar died in 273 B.C. this son, Ashoka ascended the throne after him by putting aside his elder brother. Emperor Ashoka truly deserved to be included in the list of virtuous and holy kings not only of India but of the world. However, according to the criterion laid down in paragraphs 7 to 9 of this book, the Ashokan epoch does not fit in properly in the scope of the glorious epochs. Hence, we cannot do anything more than bypass him with only a slight reference. 150. But after his conversion to Buddhism, Ashoka carried out an excessive propaganda in favour of certain Buddhist principles like Ahimsa and the rest, which have caused so much harm to the Indian political outlook, her political independence, and her empire, that it has become absolutely necessary to discuss at some length here as well as in other chapters, not only the principles of Ashoka but also those of Buddhism and their practices. Hail to Lord Buddha! 151. Before discussing here some of the anti-national Buddhist preachings and practices and their effects, I consider it my duty to state in the beginning—so that there may not be any misunderstanding or perversion of my views—that on the whole, I have a very high regard for Lord Buddha and his religion. In Indian history, there are several lofty Himalayan peaks of world famous personalities and the name of one of those sublime heights is Bhagwan Buddha! As regards this reverence for him, I, too, would gladly join his disciples in bowing down my head before his idol, saying. “Hail to thee, O Lord Buddha!” The Hindu nation too, which gave birth to such a divine, considers him the ninth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Causes of Decline of Buddhism in India 152. The Buddhist cult for that matter was being preached in the vicinity of Magadha, at least three hundred years before Ashoka. It was mostly propagated, till then, by persuasion and conviction on matters of principles. Naturally, its progress was slow. It has already been pointed out in paragraph no. 16 that till the time of Alexander and Seleucos, Buddhist religion was hardly known in Punjab, Sindh, Gandhar and other provinces.