Vitashoka

Vitashoka as called in Divyavadana or Tissa (born 3rd-century BC) was a prince of the Maurya Empire as the only uterine of Ashoka,^[1] and the only brother left alive by Ashoka. According to Divyavadana he was a follower of the Tirthikas and used to criticize the Buddhist monks for living a comfortable life. He was made to sit on the throne by the courtiers. When Ashoka found out about that, he persuaded Vitashoka to become a Buddhist.

Vitashoka became a monk and practiced austerities rigorously.

Divyavadana narrates a story of someone in Pundravardhana and then again at Pataliputra, drew a picture of the Buddha bowing before Nirgrantha Nataputta. As a punishment Ashoka ordered the Ajivikas^[2] to be put to death and declared a reward for killing of Nirgranthas. Someone killed Vitashoka taking him to be a Nirgrantha. His head was taken to Ashoka. After identifying that it was his own brother, Ashoka stopped giving orders for executions.

He is referred to as Tissa in Sri Lanka chronicles.^[3][4] Theragatha commentary^[5] regards Tissa and Vitashoka as different individuals.

Legacy

• Vitashoka appears in the 2001 epic Indian historical drama film Aśoka. Madhu Varshitt portrayed Vitashoka in the film.

References