Ashokan Inscriptions and Their Importance

Ashokan Inscription as discussed by Harsh

Mauryan Empire was one of the greatest empires in the history of Indian subcontinent. It was flourished from c. 322 BC to c. 185 BC., and almost all the region of Indian subcontinent was under the dominance of the Mauryan empire. Chandragupta was the founder of the Mauryan empire. But the Mauryan empire was reached it extent during the rule of Ashoka the Great. He took various through-out his reign that made Mauryan empire one of the greatest. The inscriptions of the Ashoka are main source of information about the policies of Ashoka.

Also Read : Mauryan Empire – Nature and Polity

Magadha – Factors Behind its Rise

Major Schools of Buddhism

Rise of Mahajanapadas in Indian Subcontinent

Jainism – The Philosophy and Teachings

Inscriptions of Ashoka

The Ashokan inscriptions are one of the major sources that provide details about the Mauryan empire. The inscription contains:

1. Rock Edicts (Major and Minor edicts) are 14 in number which were issued by the king Ashoka, so that citizens could learn about Dhamma.
2. Pillar Edicts; they are independent piece of work not adjacent to any building.
3. Cave Inscriptions basically inscriptions discovered from the caves which were constructed as Chaitya and Vihara.

These inscriptions were discovered from the different places in all over Indian subcontinent which indicated the extent of the Mauryan empire. For example, 13^th major rock edict was discovered from Shahbazgarhi and Manshera in Pakistan, form Kalsi in Uttarakhand, we discovered 13^th major rock edict, edicts from Jaugada in Odisha, Junagarh in Gujarat, Maski in Karnataka etc. all these locations of Ashokan inscriptions tells the extent of Mauryan empire.

Importance of Ashokan inscriptions

These inscriptions provided information about the language and script of the Mauryan age. Prakrit is the most common language used in these inscriptions. Brahmi was the most common script which was used. In some inscriptions Greek, Aramaic and Kharosthi scripts were used. The use of these scripts indicated that some foreigners were living in the Mauryan empire.  

Manu of the inscriptions were contained dates of various activities. For example, according to the 6^th Pillar edict, Ashoka began to issue Major rock edicts in the 13^th reginal year of Ashoka. Full name of emperor Ashoka was only in major rock edicts but minor edicts discovered from the Gurjara, Maski, Nittur and Udegolam also contain full name of Ashoka as Ashoka Devanumpiya Piyadassi.

Before the decipherment of Ashokan inscriptions it was believed that king Devanumpiya mentioned in Ceylonese (Sri Lanka) chronicles (Deepvamsa and Mahavamsa) was a Sri Lankan king. The Ashokan inscriptions provide information about the nature and character of state under Ashoka, names of officials and their functions, personal history of Ashoka, welfare measures taken by Ashoka, foreign policy of Ashoka and content of Dhamma was also found.

These inscriptions helped in understanding the material culture of the age. Since, stone was used for inscription which clearly reveal that use of stone was common during Mauryan age. Ashokan inscriptions contain names of neighboring kingdoms. The 2^nd and 13^th Major rock edicts of Ashoka contains name of Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas. These tribes were living on the borders of Mauryan empire.

The Ashokan inscriptions also throw light on the economic life of the Mauryan age. The Lumbini pillar edict of Ashoka informs that Lumbini village was freed from Bhoga, the ceremonial gifts. The Bhaga, land tax was reduced to 1/8^th from 1/4^th. The socio-cultural life also visible through these inscriptions like 1^st major rock edict of Ashoka informs that animal sacrifices were prohibited by him which was aspect of policy of non-violence. The Barabar caves indicates that these caves were donated by Ashoka to monks of Ajivika sect.

Thus, Ashokan inscriptions are very important source to reconstruct the history of Mauryan age, especially for the age of Ashoka.