ASHOKAN EDICTS The Edicts are divided into four categories, according to their size (Minor or Major) and according to their medium (Rock or Pillar). Chronologically, the minor inscriptions tend to precede the larger ones, while rock inscriptions generally seem to have been started earlier than the pillar inscriptions: 91. Consider the following pairs : Site of Ashoka’s Location in the major rock edicts State of 1. Dhauli — Odisha 2. Erragudi — Andhra Pradesh 3. Jaugada — Madhya Pradesh 4. Kalsi — Karnataka How many pairs given above are correctly matched ? (a) Only one pair (b) Only two pairs (c) Only three pairs (d) All four pairs101. Consider the following statements about 30. A) Kanaganahalli archaeological site : 1. It is situated on the bank of Bhima river. 2. The remains of the Kanaganahalli Stupa can be dated between lst and 3rd centuries CE. 3. Emperor Ashoka’s image was found at the site. Which of the statements given above are correct? (@) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only () 1 and 3 only (d) 1,2 and3 Who among the following rulers advised his subjects through this inscription ? “Whosoever praises his religious sect or blames other sects out of excessive devotion to his own sect, with the view of glorifying his own sect, he rather injures his own sect very severely.” (a) +. Ashoka (b) | Samudragupta (©) Harshavardhana (a) Krishnadeva Raya8. In which of the following relief sculpture inscriptions is ‘Ranyo Ashoka’ (King Ashoka) mentioned along with the stone portrait of Ashoka? (a) Kanganahalli (b) Sanchi (c) Shahbazgarhi (d) Sohgaura 97. With reference to the history of India, consider the following pairs : Famous Place Present State p Bhilsa _ Madhya Pradesh 2. Dwarasamudra — Maharashtra 3. Girinagar — Gujarat 4. Sthanesvara —_— Uttar Pradesh Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched ? (a) 1 and 3 only (b) Land 4 only (©) 2and 3 only (a) 2and 4 onlyASHOK EDICTS AND INSCRIPTIONS The Edicts are divided into four categories, according to their size (Minor or Major) and according to their medium (Rock or Pillar). Chronologically, the minor inscriptions tend to precede the larger ones, while rock inscriptions generally seem to have been started earlier than the pillar inscriptions: @ Location of the Minor Rock Edicts (Edicts 1, 2 & 3) @ Other inscriptions often classified as Minor Rock Edicts. @ Location of the Major Rock Edicts. | Location of the Minor Pillar Edicts. | Original location of the Major Pillar Edicts. @ Capital citiesMINOR ROCK EDICTS Name Location Map Overview Rock Rubbing / Close up Location of Srinivaspuri near Kalkaji Temple, in the Kailash Colony, near the Bahapur area, Bahapur South Delhi Minor rock edict # 1 only!25 28,55856°N 77.25662°E Local 3D view Near Jhans 1, Madhya Pradesh, Minor rock edict # 1 only.25 Here, the name of Ashoka is used together with his titles: "Devanampiya Piyadas! Datia dist Asokaraje"!27IFult inscription 25.57699°N 78.54594°E ‘The authenticity of this inscription has been doubted." Gujarra Inscription ‘Devanampyase Pyadasine Asoka Sehore District, Madhya Pradesh. Minor rock edict # 1 oniyi28i901 22.729949°N 77.519910°E In Saru Maru/Panguraria there is also a ‘commemorative inscription referring to the visit of Ashoka as a young man, while he was still viceroy of Madhya Pradesh" Piyadasi nama rajakumala va samvasamane imam desam papunitha viharatvaytay(e) Saru Maru/ Panguraria The king, who (now after consecration) is called SeiM | Grae ‘Piyadasi", (once) came to aera this place for a pleasure tour while still a (ruling) prince, living together with his unwedded consort. —Commemorative Inscription of the visit of Ashoka, Saru Maru. Translated by Falk#I(%0l Bellary District, Kamataka. Udegolam Minor rock edict n°1 and n°2)25) 15.52000°N 76.83361°E Bellary District, Kammataka. Nittur Minor rock edicts #1 and #2128) 15.54717°N 76.83270°EMaski, Reichur district, Karnataka, Minor rock edict #1 only?) ‘TA proclamation] of Devanampriya Asoka." Maski "Two and a half year [and somewhat more] (have passed) since | am a Buddha-Sakya...” Full ae, aa inscription 15,95723°N 76.64122°E Near Brahmagiri, Karnataka (14°48'49" N 76°47'58" E). Siddapur Minor rock edicts # 1 and #2125) Full inscription: 14.81361°N 76.7944" Chitradurga district, Karnataka, Minor rock edicts n*1 and n°225) Brahmagiri _ Full inscription: 14.81361°N 76.80611"E Near Brahmagiri, Karnataka. Jatinga- Minor rock edicts n°7 and n°251 Rameshwara Full inscription: 14,84972'N 76.79083"E Main article: Paikigundu and Gavimat, Kopp! Palkigundu and Gavimath (also called "Gavi Palkigundu Matha Koppal’), Koppal district, Karnataka, end Govenesy Minor roc edict #1 only?! 15.34416°N 76.13694°E 15.33729°N 76.16213°E Near Pattikonda, Kurnool district, Andhra Rejula Pradesh. Mandagiri Minor rock edict #1 only? 15.43500°N 77.47166"E Gooty, near Guntakal, Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh. Yerragudi Minor rock edicts n° and n°2.5) The Major Rock Euicts are also present here! 15.20995°N 77.57688°E Rohtas District, Bihar. The edict is located near the top of the terminal spur of the Kimur Range near Sasaram.!%! Minor rock edict #1 only?) “..And where there are stone pillars here in my dominion, there also cause it to be engraved." Full inscription: Sasaram / 24.94138°N 84,03833°E ‘Sahasram_ SEN i Realy MA The name Jombudpas for “Inde (Grahmi script inthe Sahasram Minor Rock Edict of Ashoks, ce 250 ce babaOn Kaimur Hills near Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh; ASI page “Two and a half years [and somewhat more] Rupnath Image, (have passed) since | am openly a Sakya...” Full inscription 23.64083°N 80.03194°E Found on a very large rock, on the hill north of Bairat, Rajasthan. Bairat Minor rock edict #1 only Full inscription 27.45188°N 76.18499°E An inscription found on the bout one mile southwest of Bairat, Rejasthan, on a block of aranite on the platform between the Bairat ‘Temple and the large cannon-shaped rock in front of it!27128) The edict was discovered by Captain Burt in 1840,°*) and transferred to the Museum of the Asiatic Society of Bengal at Calcutta, hence the name "Calcutta-Bairat’, also called the Caloutta/Bairat Bhabra or Bhabru Edict." Contains Minor rock edict #3 only, in which Ashoka gives a list of Buddhist scriptures to study." “..dt is known to you Sirs, how great is my faith ‘and reverence in the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha...” Full inscription In this inscription, Ashoka is referred to as *Piyadasi Raja Magadhe" ("Piyadasi, king of Magadha’) !“° 27.A1T124°N 76.162569°E Moder image in ; the Asiatic Society Mirzapur District, Uttar Pradesh. Ahraura, Minor rock edict #1 only!25! « [41] 25,02000'N 83.02000°E Kaimur District, Bihar. Identical to the Sasaram Ratampurwa rock edict.) 25.018067"N 83.341657°E Images. « Miscellaneous inscriptions often catalogued in the ?MAJOR ROCK EDICTS Major Rock Edicts of Ashoka Rubbing Name Location and content Map Overview Rock —/ Close- up ‘Main article: Kandahar Greek Edicts of Ashoka Old Kandahar, Afghanistan. Kandahar —_End of Major Rock Edict 13 and beginning of Major Rock Edict 14 (in Greek)."7) 31.602447°N 65.658843°E Gooty, near Guntakal, Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh. Major Rock Edicts 1-14.17) Minor Rock Edicts n*1 and n*2 are also present here .!'71 15,209722°N 77.576944°E Yerragudi Main article: Junagadh rock inscription of Rudradaman Gimar, Gujarat Major Rock Edicts 1-14.!'71 Navigable 3D view 21.525075°N 70.479543°E Girnar The front is shaped as an elephant. Dhauli, Khordha district, Odisha. Major Rock Edicts 1-10, 14, Separate Edict 1% & Separate Edict 22.071 Navigable 3D view 20.1891573°N 85.8425935°E Dhauli Jaugada, Ganjam district, Odisha Major Rock Edicts 1-10, 14, Jaugada Separate Edicts 182.!'7! Navigable 30 views 19.522602°N 84.830885°E Main article: Khalsi inscription khalsi, Dehradun District, Uttarakhand. Major Rock Edicts 1 to 14,("71 Navigable 3D view( 30.5180°N 77.8482°E KhalsiNala Sopara, Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Palghar district, Maharashtra Sopara Fragments of the 8th and 9th major rock edicts.""7| Inscribed on a free- standing stone." 3D view 19.4141529°N 72.7950626°E Shahbazgarhi, Mardan, Pakistan Major Rock Edicts 1 to 14 (in the Shahbazgarhi Kharoshthi seript).17 34.223676°N 72.165541°E Mansehra, Hazara, Pakistan Major Rock Edicts 1 to 14 (in the Mansehra Kharoshthi script).!'7] 34.337804°N 73.193420°E Sannati, Gulbarga, Karnataka Major Rock Edicts 12, 14, separate edict replacing No.13.""7! Originally ‘set on a standing stone, inscribed front and back.!"®! Found (as Sannati building material) in Chandrala Parameswari Temple in Sannati.!') Now relocated 3 km away, near Kanaganahalli Stupa, where reliefs depicting Ashoka were found. 16.835024°N 76.9328908°EMINOR PILLARS Minor Pillar Edicts of Ashoka Minor Pillar Edict on the Sarnath pillar. Material Sandstone Created 3rd century BCE Present location India, Afghanistan ert Kosambi/ AllapabadSarnath Sanchi Locations of the Minor Pillar Edicts of Ashoka.Asoka's Minor Pillar Edicts are exclusively inscribed on several of the Pillars of Ashoka, at Sarath, Sanchi, Allahabad (a pillar initially located in Kosambi), Rummindei and Nigali Sagar. They are all in the Prakrit language and the Brahmi script. MAJOR PILLAR EDICTS Major Pillar Edicts of Ashoka Major Pillar Edicts on the Delhi-Topra pillar. laterial Sandstone reated Srd century BCE resent location India, Afghanistan [Location of the Major Pillar Edicts. > New locations after displacement.Name Map Location Pillar Close-t ‘Main article: Lauria Nandangarh Lauriya. Located in Lauriya-Nandangarh, Navandgarh Bethia, Bihar, India Google map Major Pillar Edicts 1-6.) 26.998479°N 84.408476°E Main article: Allahabad pillar Allahabad Fort, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, Major Pillar Edicts 1-6! Also has Allahabad Ne Schism Edict and the “Queen Edict" Former location in Kosambi: 25,350588°N 81.389549°E Current location in Allahabad: 25.431111°N 81.87500°E Main article: Delhi-Topra pillar Located in Delhi, originally from Topra in Yamunanagar district, Haryana. an 4 5 Delhi-Topra Major Pillar Edicts 1-7.) aD Former location in Topra: 30.1252°N 77.1623°E Current location in New-Delhi 28.635739°N 77.245398°E Main article: Ashokan Edicts in Delhi Located in Delhi, originally from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. Delhi- Major Pillar Edicts 1-6.) Meerut Former location in Meerut: 28.99°N 71.70°E Current location in Delhi: 28.673853°N 77.211849°E Main article: Lauriya Arara Located in Lauriya near Areraj, Bethia, Bihar, India. Major Pillar Edicts 1-6.°) 26.550227°N 84.647581°E Lauriya- ArarajMain article: Ashokan Edicts in Delhi Located in Delhi, originally from Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. Delhi- Major Pillar Edicts 1-6." Meerut Former location in Meerut: 28.99°N 77.70°E Current location in Delhi: 28.673853°N 77.211849°E Main article: Lauriya Araraj Located in Lauriya near Areraj, Bethia, Bihar, India. Major Pillar Edicts 1-6." 26.550227°N 84.647581°E Lauriya- Araraj Main article: Rampurva Located in Rampurva, Bethia, Bihar, India Rampurva — Major Pillar Edicts 1-6." Another pillar of Rampurva, the bull pillar, does not have inscriptions. 27.2699°N 84.4995°ECONTENT OF THE INSCRIPTIONS Major Prohibition of animal sacrifice, Rock especially during festive seasons. Edict I Major Medical treatment of humans and Rock animals, planting of fruits, medicinal Edict herbs and the digging of " wells. Mentions the Pandyas, Satyapuras and Keralaputras of South India. Major Generosity to Brahmins. About Yuktas, Rock Pradeshikas and Rajukas who would go Edict every five years to different parts of his Mt empire to spread Dhamma. Major Dhammaghosha (sound of Rock Dhamma/righteousness) over Edict Bherighosha (sound of war). The King Iv Ashoka attached greatest value to his duty. Major About Dhammamahamatras. Talks Rock about treating slaves right. A special Edict cadre of officials, Dhamma Gosha were Vv appointed and entrusted with the duty of spreading Dhamma within the kingdom. Major King’s desire to know about his people's Rock conditions. About welfare measures. Edict viMajor Rock Edict vu Major Rock Edict Major Rock Edict 1x Major Rock Edict Major Rock Edict I Major Rock Edict xu Major Rock Edict CHEE Major Rock Edict xIV Tolerance towards religions among all sects and welfare measures for the public in his as well as his neighbouring kingdoms. Ashoka’s first visit to Bodh Gaya and the Bodhi tree (his first Dhamma Yatra). Gave importance to Dhamma tours. Condemns popular ceremonies. Stresses on moral conduct. Disapproves of the individual's desire for fame and glory and stresses on Dhamma. Dhamma is the best policy to follow, which includes respect for elders and concern for slaves and servants. It mentions Mahamattas in charge of women’s welfare, Ithijika Mahamatta and tolerance towards the dhamma of others. Mentions victory over Kalinga. Mentions Ashoka’s Dhamma victory over Greek Kings Antiochus of Syria (Amtiyoko), Ptolemy of Egypt (Turamaye), Magas of Cyrene (Maka), Antigonus of Macedon (Amtikini), Alexander of Epirus (Alikasudaro). Also mentions Pandyas, Cholas, etc. The thirteenth rock edict which was issued at the end of the Kalinga war gives a vivid picture of the change of Ashoka from an aggressive and violent warrior to a great lover and preacher of peace. The direct and immediate effect of the Kalinga war was the conversion of Ashoka to Buddhism. Purpose of rock edicts.Pillar Ashoka’s principle of protecting his Edict people. I Pillar Defines Dhamma as minimum of sins, Edict many virtues, compassion, liberty, i truthfulness and purity. Pillar | Avoiding practices of cruelty, sin, Edict harshness, pride and anger among his ll subjects. Pillar Responsibilities of the Rajukas. Edict IV Pillar —_ List of animals and birds that should Edict not be killed on certain days. Another Vv list mentions animals that should never be killed. Describes release of 25 prisoners. This pillar edict is also known as Delhi-Topra Pillar Edict. Pillar Dhamma policy of the State (welfare of Edict the people). vi Pillar © Ashoka’s work for fulfilling Dhamma. Edict Tolerance for all sects. Also, vil about Dhamma Mahamattas.