Ashoka

King Ashoka, of the Gonandiya dynasty, was a king of the region of Kashmir according to Kalhana, the 12th century CE historian who wrote the Rajatarangini.

He is said to have built a great city called Srinagara (near but not same as the modern-day Srinagar). In his days, the mlechchhas (barbarians) overran the country, and he took sannyasa.

According to Kalhana's account, this Ashoka was the 48th king of the Gonandiya dynasty (Rajatarangini I102).

Kalhana also states (Rajatarangini I102) that this king had adopted the doctrine of Jina, and constructed stupas. Despite the discrepancies, multiple scholars identify Kalhana's Ashoka with the Mauryan emperor Ashoka, who adopted Buddhism. Although "Jina" is a term generally associated with Jainism, some ancient sources use it to refer to the Buddha.

He also built Shiva temples, and appeased Bhutesha (Shiva) to obtain his son Jalauka.

Other scholars have disputed the identification with Ashoka of the Maurya Empire.

In the chronology of the Rajatarangini, the reign of Ashoka is followed by that of his son Jalauka, then a king named Damodara II, and then the Kushan kings Husha, Juska and Kanishka.