Tishyarakshita (Pali: TissarakkhÃÂ, Sanskrit: Tiá¹£yaraká¹£itÃÂ) was the last queen consort of Emperor Ashoka of the Maurya Empire in the 3rd century BCE. She is primarily known from Buddhist chronicles for her treacherous role in the Mauryan court, including her alleged involvement in the blinding of Kunala, Ashoka's heir, and the destruction of the original Bodhi Tree.
The primary sources that mention Tisyarakshita are Buddhist texts, including:
Tisyarakshita is absent from Ashokan inscriptions, leading some historians to suggest that Buddhist chroniclers exaggerated her actions.
Little is known about TisyarakshitaâÂÂs origins. She ascended as queen consort after the death of Ashoka's chief queen, Asandhimitra, around 240âÂÂ9 BCE.
Tisyarakshita reportedly gained political influence in the later years of AshokaâÂÂs reign.
One of the most prominent accounts about Tisyarakshita is her alleged involvement in the blinding of Kunala, AshokaâÂÂs son. The Aà ÂokÃÂvadÃÂna states that she attempted to seduce Kunala, but when he rejected, she issued an order that led to his blinding. The DivyÃÂvadÃÂna presents a similar version but highlights KunalaâÂÂs later forgiveness of Tisyarakshita. The MahÃÂvaá¹Âsa suggests that the blinding was due to court intrigue, without explicitly blaming Tisyarakshita. Historians debate whether Kunala was actually blinded or whether the story is a later Buddhist embellishment.
The destruction of the Bodhi Tree at Bodh Gaya is another event attributed to Tisyarakshita. The Aà ÂokÃÂvadÃÂna states that she hired a Matanga sorceress to curse the Bodhi Tree, mistakenly believing it to be a woman who had captured AshokaâÂÂs devotion. After realizing her mistake, she tried to rectify her actions. The DivyÃÂvadÃÂna states that she was jealous of AshokaâÂÂs devotion to the tree and ordered it poisoned. The MahÃÂvaá¹Âsa confirms the poisoning but notes that the tree was later revived.
Tisyarakshita's fate is uncertain, most accounts do not mention her after Ashoka's final years.