Kalashoka, Kālāśoka, Kālāsoka: 5 definitions
Introduction:
Kalashoka means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
The Sanskrit term Kālāśoka can be transliterated into English as Kalasoka or Kalashoka, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper NamesSon of Susunaga and king of Magadha for twenty eight years. The tenth year of his reign completed one hundred years from the date of the Buddhas death.
During the reign of Kalasoka the Vajjian heresy appeared among the Sangha, and at first the king took the side of the Vajjians. Later, his sister Nanda persuaded him to transfer his patronage to the orthodox monks, and a convocation was held, with his support, at the Valikarama in Vesali, at which the Vajjians were proved in the wrong. (Mhv.iv.7, 8, 9, 31, 38, 39, 42, 63; Dpv.iv.44, 52; v.25, 80, 99; Sp i.33).
Kalasoka had ten sons, who carried on the government after him for twenty two years (Mhv.v.14). He and Pandukabhaya were contemporary kings for many years (Sp.i.72).
The names of his ten sons were: Bhaddasena, Korandavanna, Mangura, Sabbanjaha, Jalika, Ubhaka, Sanjaya, Korabya, Nandivaddhana, and Pancamaka. Mbv. p.98.
There is great difference of opinion as to the identity of Kalasoka. Some hold that he is the same as Kakavanna of the Puranas and Udayin of the Jaina traditions, and that these names are merely other appellations of Udayabhadda of the Pali sources. Kalasoka is credited with having removed the capital of Magadha from Rajagaha to Pataliputta. The whole question of Kalasoka is discussed by Geiger in his Introd. to the Mhv.Trs.xliii.f.
Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).
General definition (in Buddhism)
Source: academia.edu: The Chronological History of BuddhismKalashoka is another name of Ashoka.—Bindusara I married Subhadrangi and made her his chief queen. Subhadrangi had two sons, Ashoka and Vigatashoka. Bindusara did not like Ashoka because he was a dark-complexioned boy. This is the reason why Mahavamsa and Dipavamsa refer to Ashoka as Kalashoka.
Undoubtedly, all Buddhist traditions indicate that Ashoka, the Great was indeed Kalashoka who lived 100 years after Buddha nirvana. Tibetan sources also mention that Ashoka flourished 100 years after Buddha nirvana. Taranatha mentions that Vigatashoka and Virasena succeeded Ashoka. After Virasena, Nanda and Mahapadma reigned over Magadha. Evidently, Nanda dynasty reigned after Kalashoka. Therefore, only Kalashoka can be identified as Ashoka, the Great.
Divyavadana mistakenly assumes the dynasty of Ashoka and Kunala as Maurya whereas Mahavamsa and Dipavamsa clearly mentions that Kalashoka belonged to the Ikshvaku dynasty.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryKālāśoka (कालाशोक):—[from kāla] m. Name of a king (probably Name of the celebrated king Candra-gupta q.v.)
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Full-text (+4): Korandavanna, Sabbanjaha, Nandivaddhana, Mangura, Pancamaka, Ubhaka, Jalika, Jaloka, Bhaddasena, Second Buddhist Council, Hushka, Jushka, Lohakumbha, Ashoka, Pataliputra, Mathura, Vesali, Bindusara, Kanishka, Udayibhadda.
Relevant text
Search found 8 books and stories containing Kalashoka, Kālāśoka, Kālāsoka, Kalasoka; (plurals include: Kalashokas, Kālāśokas, Kālāsokas, Kalasokas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Dipavamsa (study) (by Sibani Barman)
Philosophy of language in the Five Nikayas (by K.T.S. Sarao)
2.2. The Second Buddhist Council < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]
Kathasaritsagara (the Ocean of Story) (by Somadeva)
Mahavamsa (by Wilhelm Geiger)
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Appendix 7 - Description of Pāṭaliputra (present Patna) < [Chapter V - Rājagṛha]
Appendix 2 - Notes on the second Buddhist council < [Chapter III - General Explanation of Evam Maya Śruta]
Buddhism in Andhra – Its Arrival, Spread and < [July – September, 1994]