Major Rock Edicts of Ashoka
The Rock edicts are found many parts of India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. In Edicts three languages are used to written like Prakrit, Greek and Aramic and four scripts were used. Prakrit inscriptions are written in Brahmi and Kharoshti scripts. In Pakistan’s edicts, there are used in Kharoshti script. The first Inscription of Ashoka was Kandhar edicts was written only in Greek. Ashoka inscription are written first in India but now they are in Afghanistan. All Edicts were translation by German epigraphist E. Hultzsch.
Major Rock Edict I
He prohibited killing animal and saving them. He mentions as Devanampriya Priyadarsin, everyday animals were killed for food. One Peacock and one deer were killed in the kitchen of Ashoka but he wished that is discontinue in future. He also bans festival of killing animals.
Major Rock Edicts II
It Edict mention that care of men and animals. He describe his recipients like Chola, Kerala putra, Pandyas, Tamrapani, of South India and Greek king Antiyoga or Antiochus II and his neighbours everywhere established medical men for treatment for men and animal. On the roads tree were planted and well were dug to drink water. This Edict translated by German epigraphist E. Hultzsch.
Major Rock Edicts III
In this Edict he mentions Yukta or subordinate officers, Pradeshika or district head, and Rajukas or Rural officers shall go to all area of Kingdom in every five years to spread the Dhamma Policy of Ashoka and for other business. The doctrine of toleration of Brahmanas, Sramanas, Nirgantha and Ajivikas. The Mahamatra and council of minister will register the rules for observation both in letter and spirit.
Major Rock Edicts IV
It mentions the practice of Morality. The son, grand-son, great -grandson of Devanampriya will practice of morality. They will prohibition to killing of animals, courtesy to relatives, courtesy to Brahmans and Sramanas and respect to Parents and increase the Dhamma not decrease.
Major Rock Edicts V
He appointed to Dhamma Mahamatras to promote the Dhamma and welfare among followers and also mention that ‘Every Humans is my child’.
Major Rock Edicts VI
Ashoka management to Government affairs and to said to cure of men and I may make them happy in the World and live like in Heaven.
Major Rock Edicts VII
In this give the importance of self control, purity of mind and firm devotion .He respect to all religion and passions may resided in the Kingdom.
Major Rock Edicts VIII
He describes his first dharma yatra to Bodhgaya and Bodhi tree in the 11th year of his reign. He built at Bodh Gaya the Diamond throne to mark the place of Buddha’s enlightenment. He said it was pleasure tour and in this toured hunting and other pleasure were enjoyed.
Major Rock Edicts IX
The ceremonies of birth, marriages, after death, and going out to a journey are practicing. He stressed against in ceremonies of Dhamma. He spoke the practice of Morality, like proper courtesy to servants, respect to elder, life of animal, respect to Sramans and Brahmanas. They are called practice of Morality.
Major Rock Edicts X
He desire gloring and fame. He preferred the principle of Dhamma.
Major Rock Edicts XI
Like Rock Edict IX there is no gift such gift as the gift of morality, the distribution of morality, kingship through morality, gift to Sramana and Brahmana.
Major Rock Edicts XII
King Devanamapriya Priyadarsin honored to all sect. in Dhamma Policy the Mahamatras, Mahamatra controlling Women, the inspector of cowpens, or other officers were incharged.
Major Rock Edicts XIII
It is the largest Edicts of Ashoka. This Edict views the horror story of Kalinga war on the bank of river Daya in Kalinga fought in 261 BCE between Ashoka and Maha Padmanabha. He mentons that the Hellenistic kingdom and the southern kingdom were all within this area of Dharmavijaya.
Major Rock Edicts XIV
Give the all total Inscription summary which he was Edicts through out the country. He said, ‘my dominoes are wide and much has been written and I shall constantly cause still more to be written. But some cases may have been written incompletely, either the account of locality or because the motive was not liked or by the fault of the writer’.
Minor Rock Edicts of Ashoka
The minor Rock edicts were written in his reign of 10th to 11th year. The first inscription was Kandhar Bilingual Rock inscription was written in Greek language. In this edict he describes himself as a Buddhist Upasaka (layman) and he became closer to Samgha.
The Minor Rock Edicts of Ashoka’s locations are-
• Bahapur, Delhi
• Gujjara, Datia, Uttar Pradesh
• Panguraria, Sehore, Madhya Pradesh
• Udegolam, Bellary, Karnataka
• Nittur, Bellary, Karnataka
• Maski, Karnataka
• Siddapur, Brahmagir, Karnataka
• Jatinga Rameswarama, Karnataka
• Bairat, Rajasthan
• Ahraura, Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh
As an Administrator, his strong relation with Chera, Chola and Pandya and satyaputra Kingdom. He also planted the tree and dug well for common people on the both road side. He banned to kill Fishes and female pigs, sheep, and goats upto the age of 6 months.
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