Mahinda follows Ashoka

Ashoka, one of the greatest native rulers of India, had a son named Mahinda who opted to become a Buddhist monk instead of succeeding his father. Mahinda lived to be 80 and apparently was at least somewhat charismatic. Supposing Mahinda instead succeeds Ashoka, what are some possible effects?
 
This will change how Buddhism spreads to Sri Lanka. Unless one of the other monks which accompanied Mahendra convince the king Devanampiyatissa to convert. So maybe without Mahendra, Sri Lanka remains non-Buddhist.

Does his sister, Sanghamitta, still join the Bhikkunis ITTL? She was responsible for a lot of female conversions. She established the Bhikkunis lineage in Sri Lanka. Without her there's no Bodhi tree in Anuradhapura either.

I think this will effect the development of Hinduism too. Which is entering its classical period.
 
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