Tishyaraksha

Who is Tishyaraksha?

Tishyaraksha was the youngest as well as the last wife of Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan Empire, who was the ruler of India. She is also referred to as Tishyarakshita, Tissarakka and Tissarakbha in some accounts. According to Ashokavadana, she was responsible for blinding Ashoka's son and heir presumptive Kunala.

Haraprasad Shastri's second novel " Kanchanmala" features Tisshyaraksha in a prominent role. The story of Tishyaraksha has also been captured by the Bengali writer Samaresh Majumdar in his novel "Saranagata", however, with very different strokes and shades that are attributed to the life of Emperor Ashoka.