Ashoka pillar edicts

 

 

Pillars of Ashoka

 

The Pillar of Ashoka or the Dhamma Stambha was the earliest stone sculpture of India. There were so many Pillars buit by Ashoka but many of them were lost. The Pillar of Ashoka built at Buddhist monasteries, and important sites of the Buddhas. 

There are two Pillars at Rampurva which was Single Lion used in Pillar and one at Vaishali which was single Lion used. At Lauriya Nandangarh, there are also single Lion used. At Sarnath and Sanchi there are four Lion used on the Pillars. At Sankissa, there is used single Elephant capital animal. One Pillar at Ruminidei near Lumbini Horse capital was erected by Ashoka where was Gautam Buddha was born, Chinese traveller Xuan Zang or Hiuen Tsang also visited there. Two pillars were relocated by Firoz Shah Tugluq of Tugluq dynasty to Delhi and many Pillars were also relocated by Mughals.

 

                 

 

Content of the Edicts

 

     Major Pillar Edict 1 

    Asoka’s principle of protection of the people. 

 

     Major Pillar Edict 2

      Defines dhamma as a minimum of sins, many virtues, compassion, liberality, 

      truthfulness and purity.

 

 

Major Pillar Edict 3

 Abolishes sins of harshness, cruelty, anger, pride etc.

 

Major Pillar Edict 4

 Deals with duties of Rajukas. 

 

Major Pillar Edict 5 

A list of animals and birds which should not be killed on some days, and 

another list of animals which have not to be killed at all occasions. Describes 

the release of 25 prisoners by Asoka. 

 

Major Pillar Edict 6

Dhamma Policy. 

 

Major Pillar Edict 7

Works done by Asoka for Dhamma Policy. He says that all sects desire 

both self-control and purity of mind. This edict only appears on the

 Delhi-Topara pillar at the fortress of Feroz shah Kotla in New Delhi.