Ashoka was a Indian Emperor who ruled over almost the entire Indian subcontinent. In 260 BC he was involved in a war with Kalinga. The battle was bloody, and upon seeing so many lifeless bodies strewn on the battlefield, the ruler converted to Buddhism. "Ashoka regarded Buddhism as a doctrine that could serve as a cultural foundation for political unity." His far-reaching rule advanced the philosophies of Buddhism, furthering the spread of non-violent ideologies.
Not much later, Jainism begins to be a clearly organized religion. The Jain doctrine emphasizes a disciplined and non-violent lifestyle. In accordance is this, Jains are typically uncompromising vegetarians, and are devoted to a strict practice of non-violence which can have immense effects on ones life. For example, devout Jains cannot be farmers, as insects are inadvertently harmed in the plowing process.
Vijaya Nagara, located around present day Hampi, was the capital of the Vijayanagara empire. At it's height, Vijaya Nagara was thought to be the home of 500,000 inhabitants, making it the second largest city in the world at the time. In 1565, the city faced an invasion of Muslim armies from the North, and the capital was taken. The invaders pillaged and began to destroy the city, however, the people of Vijaya Nagara did not fight back. Within 6 months of the invasion, they had abandoned the city, going back to agricultural lifestyles or migrating to the South.
The struggle for Indian independence was a long and complicated one, lead by the charismatic Mahatma Gandhi. India's independence from Britain is singular in the way it was executed. Civil resistance has never been showcased on such a large scale. One of the most famous and renowned non-violent protests is known as the "Salt Satyagraha". At the time, the British had a tax on salt, which is necessary for human beings to survive, especially when in warm conditions. Mahatma Gandhi led the march some 388 kilometres (241 mi) from Ahmedabad to Dandi, Gujarat, in order to make salt himself. This directly defied the British, as well as gave the Indian people a sense of liberation from the oppressing force. During the Indian Independence Movement, productive non-violence was exemplified a great number of times.
Non-violence is a prerequisite in order for one to reach enlightenment, which is the ultimate goal of Buddhism. One must learn to love both themselves and all others that exist in the world, without holding animosity towards any. This is the first example of non-violent teachings in India.
One of the worlds oldest religions, HInduism was a main component in the spread of the philosophy of non-violence. Like Jainism and Buddhism, which occur later in human history, non-violence and love of all is necessary in order to achieve moksha, which is the ultimate goal of Hinduism.
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