The correct answer is option 2: Ashoka. Buddhism was introduced in Nepal during the reign of Ashoka. Ashoka was an emperor of the Maurya dynasty, who ruled over much of the Indian subcontinent in the 3rd century BCE. After a brutal war, he experienced a change of heart and adopted Buddhism as his religion. He became a patron of Buddhism and spread its teachings throughout his empire, including Nepal. Ashoka`s missionaries, known as the Mahayanists, were instrumental in the spread of Buddhism in Nepal. They established monasteries and preached the Buddhist doctrine to the Nepalese people. As a result, Buddhism took root and flourished in Nepal, eventually becoming one of the major religions in the country.