Region: South Asia · Coordinates: 25.614, 85.135 · 12 events
| Year | Source | Account |
|---|---|---|
| 325 BC | Mahavamsa (Great Chronicle of Sri Lanka) | 218 years after the parinibbana, King Asoka was consecrated at Pataliputta (Pupphapura) as ruler of all India. |
| 325 BC | Mahavamsa (Great Chronicle of Sri Lanka) | Upon the teaching of the novice Nigrodha, Asoka took refuge in the Dhamma and offered a feast to 60,000 monks. tradition |
| 325 BC | Mahavamsa (Great Chronicle of Sri Lanka) | Asoka ordered 84,000 monasteries built in 84,000 cities, and began building the Asokarama himself. tradition |
| 320 BC | Mahavamsa (Great Chronicle of Sri Lanka) | Asoka's son Mahinda (age 20) and daughter Sanghamitta (age 18) went forth on the same day. tradition |
| 310 BC | Mahavamsa (Great Chronicle of Sri Lanka) | Asoka sent a boat on the Ganges to bring Elder Moggaliputta-Tissa, and personally entered the water to offer his right hand. tradition |
| 309 BC | Mahavamsa (Great Chronicle of Sri Lanka) | At the Asokarama, Elder Moggaliputta-Tissa and 1,000 monks held the Third Council over nine months, expelling 60,000 heretics. tradition |
| 306 BC | Mahavamsa (Great Chronicle of Sri Lanka) | Mahinda sent the novice Sumana to Asoka in Pataliputta and to Sakka in heaven, to receive the alms-bowl relic and the collarbone relic. tradition |
| 255 BC | Edicts of Ashoka | Dharma Ministers were required to work in the king's capital and in all outlying cities (RE5 M) |
| 158 BC | Mahavamsa (Great Chronicle of Sri Lanka) | From the Asokarama at Pupphapura (Pataliputta), Elder Mittinna came with 160,000 monks. tradition |
| AD 405 | Faxian, A Record of Buddhist Kingdoms | After crossing the river, one yojana south reaches Pataliputra (Bālianfu) in Magadha, the capital of Ashoka: a royal palace said to have been built by spirits; Mahayana and Hinayana monasteries (600 to 700 monks); the brahmin Radhasami |
| AD 406 | Faxian, A Record of Buddhist Kingdoms | Every year on the 8th day of the second month, the procession of images: 20 four-tiered bamboo-frame carts are decorated, and brahmins invite the Buddha into the city. Wealthy families set up free clinics (charity and doctors) to care for the sick and poor |
| AD 407 | Faxian, A Record of Buddhist Kingdoms | At the great Mahayana monastery of Pataliputra he obtains a Mahāsāṃghika Vinaya manuscript, the Sarvāstivāda Vinaya (6,000 to 7,000 verses), and the Saṃyuktābhidharma-hṛdaya; for three years he learns Sanskrit and copies the texts. Daozheng decides to stay in Middle India; only Faxian returns |