How valuable are the Ashokan inscriptions in shedding light on the reign of Emperor Ashoka? To answer this question, let’s delve into the fascinating world of Ashokan inscriptions, which can be classified into three main categories: Rock Edicts, Pillar Edicts, and Cave Edicts. Dr. B. M., in his extensive research, has provided a chronological scheme for these inscriptions, allowing us to better understand the historical context in which they were created. This article has been meticulously designed for various courses including UPSC, Civil services, and other competitive exams.
Discovering The Ashokan Inscriptions
The Ashokan inscriptions are crucial historical artifacts that provide insights into the reign of Emperor Ashoka, who began engraving his records in the twelfth year of his coronation. Although we know when the inscriptions began, we do not have information about when they concluded.
Asokan Inscriptions Yearwise
| Name of Inscription | Year of Inscription |
|---|---|
| Barabar Hill Cave Edict I | 12th year |
| Rock Edicts I-IV | 12th year |
| Barabar Hill Cave Edict III | 19th year |
| Lumbini Pillar Edict | 20th year |
| Nigah Sagar Pillar Edict | 20th year |
| Pillar Edicts I-V | 26th year |
| Pillar Edicts VI | 27th year |
The Major Rock Edicts of Ashoka
| Edict | Ashoka Inscription Details(major rock edicts) |
|---|---|
| Major Rock Edict I | Prohibits animal sacrifice, particularly during festive seasons. |
| Major Rock Edict II | Emphasizes medical care for humans and animals and mentions South Indian regions. |
| Major Rock Edict III | Discusses generosity to Brahmins and the dissemination of Dhamma by appointed officials. |
| Major Rock Edict IV | Contrasts the sound of Dhamma (righteousness) with the sound of war, highlighting Ashoka’s commitment to duty. |
| Major Rock Edict V | Establishes Dhamma Mahamatras responsible for spreading Dhamma and promoting fair treatment of slaves. |
| Major Rock Edict VI | Reflects the king’s interest in the well-being of his people and details welfare measures. |
| Major Rock Edict VII | Promotes religious tolerance and welfare measures for the public in his and neighboring kingdoms. |
| Major Rock Edict VIII | Narrates Ashoka’s inaugural visit to Bodh Gaya and the significance of Dhamma tours. |
| Major Rock Edict IX | Disapproves of popular ceremonies and underscores the importance of moral conduct. |
| Major Rock Edict X | Criticizes individual desires for fame and stresses adherence to Dhamma. |
| Major Rock Edict XI | Highlights Dhamma as the best policy, encouraging respect for elders and compassion for all. |
| Major Rock Edict XII | Mentions officials in charge of women’s welfare and promotes tolerance toward other dhammas. |
| Major Rock Edict XIII | Details the victory over Kalinga and Ashoka’s Dhamma victory over Greek and regional rulers. |
| Major Rock Edict XIV | Elaborates on the purpose of rock edicts. |
The Rock Edicts of Ashoka, comprising fourteen inscriptions, have been discovered in various locations within his empire, stretching from the border of Afghanistan to the Tamil country in the south. These inscriptions play a significant role in understanding the vast extent of Ashoka’s reign.
In some of the Rock Edicts found at Dhauli and Jaugada in Kalinga, two separate Kalinga edicts replace Edicts XI, XII, and XIII. These new edicts articulate the principles by which the newly conquered kingdom of Kalinga is to be governed.
Furthermore, Ashoka’s Minor Rock Edicts, totaling twelve, found in places like Bairat, Rupmath, Brahmagiri, Maski, and Gavimath, provide essential historical insights.
The Pillar Edicts of Ashoka
| Edict | Ashoka Inscription Details(pillar edicts) |
|---|---|
| Pillar Edict I | Focuses on Ashoka’s principle of protecting his people. |
| Pillar Edict II | Defines Dhamma and lists its virtues, emphasizing compassion, truthfulness, and purity. |
| Pillar Edict III | Urges subjects to avoid cruelty, sin, harshness, pride, and anger. |
| Pillar Edict IV | Details the responsibilities of the Rajukas. |
| Pillar Edict V | Lists animals and birds that should not be killed on certain days and mentions the release of prisoners. |
| Pillar Edict VI | Highlights the Dhamma policy of the state, focused on the welfare of the people. |
| Pillar Edict VII | Describes Ashoka’s work in fulfilling Dhamma and advocates tolerance for all sects. |
Ashoka also chose to engrave his edicts on stone columns or pillars, with seven such inscriptions located in various regions. These include Delhi-Topra, Delhi-Meerut, Allahabad, Lauriya Araraja, Lauriya Nandangarh, Rampurwa in Bihar, and additional minor pillar edicts at Sanchi, Sarnath, Lumbini, and Niglisagar.
Beyond these, a few other pillar edicts, such as the one by Ashoka’s queen and another focusing on Buddhism, have been discovered at Allahabad, Sanchi, Allahabad, and Sarnath.
Lastly, we have the cave edicts, found in locations such as Barabar Hill near Gaya, Kandahar (now in Pakistan), and Raghman near Jalalak. These inscriptions provide valuable historical and cultural context.
The language used in the Ashokan inscriptions is primarily Prakrita, while the script is generally Brahmi. However, it’s worth noting that Kharoshthi, Aramaic, and Greek scripts have been identified in some inscriptions found in the northwestern frontier. This suggests that Emperor Asoka used different scripts for subjects of non-Indian origin while employing Brahmi for the majority of his empire.
Ashokan inscriptions are significant historical records that reveal Ashoka’s governance, the spread of Buddhism, and his moral principles. They encompass various categories, including major rock edicts, minor rock edicts, and pillar edicts. Minor Rock Edicts appear on 15 rocks across India and Afghanistan, with Ashoka using his name in only four of these locations. Pillar Edicts: These seven pillar edicts, made of monolithic sandstone and located in various regions, convey distinct messages related to governance and moral principles.
The Ashokan inscriptions are invaluable treasures of history that shed light on Emperor Ashoka’s reign, his principles, and the administration of his vast empire. They offer us a unique glimpse into the past and the rich tapestry of India’s cultural and political history.
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