Mauryas (Dynasty) - Rock Edicts and Inscriptions
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Minor Rock Edicts
- Kandhar Rock Inscription (Bilingual) : The written in Greek and Aramaic;
- Barabar Cave inscription: Situated in a group of hills around the city of Rajagraha; mentions that king âPiyadassiâ gave these BanÂyan caves to Ajivikas; they are three in number;
- QueenŐs Edict: Found in Allahabad â Kosambi: It reÂfers to the queen Karuvaki, the mother of Tivara; she was the second queen; menÂtions donations to Mathas; Tivara was the only son mentioned in Edicts.
- Bairat: Near Jaipur; idenÂtified with Virata, the capiÂtal of Matsya, a stupa has been discovered from here; Bhabra edict has also been found here;
- Bhabra Edict: It was brought to Calcutta a CunÂning-ham; it shows AsokaŐs reverence to Buddhism; it is addressed to the Sangha.
- Lampaka: It is fragÂmented and is written in AraÂmaic script;
- Maski: An inscription has been discovered from here, which mentions Ashoka as Piyadassi or Devanam, in 1915; this is the only inscripÂtion, which mentions Asoka as Piyadassi.
- Sohgaura: Located in Gorakhpur district of U. P. ; copper plate inscription found here; famine and variÂous measure taken by govÂernment have been menÂtioned;
- Mahasthan: The pre-Asokan Mauryan inscription found; also a copper plate inÂscription found here; the mahamatta of Pundranagara in describes as being incharge.
Pillar Inscriptions
(Seven Pillar Edicts)
- 1st Pillar Edict: social code has been mentioned;
- 2nd Pillar Edict: Chakshudan (eye donation) has been mentioned; Chakshudan and Dhamma are equal to minimum sin; the definition of Dhamma has been mentioned; and the three main qualities have also been mentioned;
- 3rd Pillar Edict: Here the soul and sin has been menÂtioned; it also mentions the bad qualities like envy, pride, anger and cruelty; the 14 maÂjor Edicts were started only after these iii Pillar Edicts.
- 4th Pillar Edict: the jurisÂdiction of the Rajukas has been mentioned; Pulsanik has been mentioned as PubÂlic Relation officer (PRO) ; in this pillar edict, Asokan inÂscriptions that âI devote my attention to all communitiesâ is engraved.
- 5th Pillar Edict: It too menÂtions about the prohibition to kill animals and burning the forests; Asoka acquits prisÂoners on his coronation anÂniversary;
- 6th Pillar Edict: It menÂtions about the welfare of the people; it mentions that âthe Dharmamahamattas will be with meâ ; he began to issue Major Rock Edicts in his 13th regnal year;
- 7th Pillar Edict: It also gives reference of the Dharma Mahamattas; it menÂtions that wells were dug. In the 8th regnal year, only one Pillar was erected which was situated between Delhi and Topra.
- It also mentions the ways to propagate Dhamma i.e.. through legislation or perÂsuasion.