This painting portrays the two distinct phase of Emperor Ashoka's life and his embracement of Buddhism. Emperor Ashoka the Great was an Indian emperor of the Maurya Dynasty. He ruled around 250 BCE and was a powerful king. During his rule, he sought to extend his kingdom by launching destructive and bloody wars against enemy kingdoms. Once during the Kalinga war, he was disturbed when he saw the aftermath that was caused by the war. This caused him to change course and embrace Buddhism. Emperor Ashoka's life can be divided into two distinct phases with the Kalinga war in the middle.