Greco-Buddhist Monasticism - Greek Monks Under Ashoka

Greek Monks Under Ashoka

According to Edicts of Ashoka, Greek populations (generally described in ancient times throughout the Classical world as Yona, Yojanas or Yavanas, lit. "Ionians" ) were under his rule in northwestern India.

Here in the king's domain among the Greeks, the Kambojas, the Nabhakas, the Nabhapamkits, the Bhojas, the Pitinikas, the Andhras and the Palidas, everywhere people are following Beloved-of-the-Gods' instructions in Dhamma. —S. Dhammika, Edicts of Ashoka, Rock Edict No. 13

Far from just being on the receiving end of conversion to Buddhism, the Mahavamsa indicates that Greeks took an active role in spreading the Buddhist faith as emissaries of Ashoka.

These Greek missionaries appear in the list of the "elders" (Pali: "thera") sent far and wide by Emperor Ashoka:

"When the thera Moggaliputta, the illuminator of the religion of the Conqueror, had brought the (third) council to an end (…) he sent forth theras, one here and one there:

• The thera Mahyantika he sent to Kasmira and Gandhara,
• The thera, MaMdeva he sent to Mahisamandala.
• To Vanavasa be sent the thera named Rakkhita,
• and to Aparantaka (he sent) the Yona named Dhammarakkhita;
• to Maharattha (he sent) the thera named Mahadhammarakkhita,
• but the thera Maharakkhita he sent into the country of the Yona.
• He sent the thera Majjhima to the Himalaya country,
• and to Suvambhurni he sent the two theras Sona and Uttara.
• The great thera Mahinda, the theras Utthiya, Uttiya, Sambala and Bhaddasala his disciples, these five theras he sent forth with the charge: `Ye shall found in the lovely island of Lanka the lovely religion of the Conqueror.'" (Mahavamsa, XII)