Final answer:
Ashoka changed profoundly after the Battle of Kalinga, renouncing violence and converting to Buddhism. He initiated many reforms for welfare and peace, and inscribed his teachings on stone pillars known as the Pillars of Ashoka.
Step-by-step explanation:
After the Battle of Kalinga around 260 BCE, which was a brutal and life-changing event for him, Emperor Ashoka underwent a profound transformation. Witnessing the massive carnage and suffering caused by the battle, which resulted in the death of a reputed 100,000 people, Ashoka experienced deep remorse and disgust at the violence he had perpetuated. He turned away from his previously selfish and cruel ways, converting to Buddhism, which was identified with the principle of Ahimsa, or non-violence.
Following his conversion, Ashoka directed his efforts towards spreading peace and welfare throughout his empire. He began by giving away his possessions to the poor, adopting vegetarianism, and implementing a variety of reforms aligned with his newfound Buddhist principles. These reforms included planting trees, digging wells for irrigation, constructing rest-houses for travelers, and building hospitals for the sick. Shifting the focus from military conquest to caring governance, he replaced traditional royal hunting parties with religious pilgrimages and introduced a series of religious edicts inscribed on pillars. Ashoka's edicts on these pillars conveyed his commitment to rule with compassion and benevolence over his empire.
In addition to social reforms, Ashoka had a significant impact on art and culture. He ordered his teachings on morality to be inscribed on stone pillars erected throughout India, known as the Pillars of Ashoka. These pillars not only spread Buddhist teachings but also acted as a unifying element across his empire, demonstrating a move towards a less direct system of rule and encouraging loyalty through moral leadership.