Mauryas (Dynasty) Details About Rock Edicts
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Major Rock Edicts
- 1st Major Rock Edict:
- declares prohibition animal sacrifice; also prohibits the holding of festivals, royal hunting was discontinued; only two peacock and a deer and killed in the kitchens of the beloved of Gods;
- 2nd Major Rock Edict:
- It mentions medical treatment human and animals; also mentions construction of roads, wells etc. and also tree planting;
- 3rd Major Rock Edict:
- It mentions about the Pradeshikas Rajuka also in the 4th Pillar Edict and Yuktas; declares the liberty towards Bramanas and the Sramanas;
- 4th Major Rock Edict:
- It mentions that the Beri-gosha has been replaced by dhrama-gosha (i.e.. sound of Dhamma) ; it also mentions that the Rajuks had the power to punish;
- 5th Major Rock Edict:
- Reference to the appointment of Dhamma Mahamatas for the first time in the 14th year of his regime; it also mentions that Dhamma Mahamattas promoting the welfare of prisoners;
- 6th Major Rock Edict:
- Mantri parishad has been mentioned; officials like Pulisani and Pratividikar has also been mentioned; It mentions All times, I am available to the Mahamattas i.e.. Mahamattas could being their report to the king at any time;
- 7th Major Rock Edict:
- It mentions religions tolerations amongst all the sects it gives information that tension among the sects was expressed intensely; it gives information about self center and purity of mind;
- 8th Major Rock Edict:
- In his 10th Regnal year, he went to Dharmyatras to Sambodhi in Bodhgaya;
- 9th Major Rock Edict:
- It mentions about the uselessness of the various ceremonies; it stresses on morality and moral code of conducts; it also mentions about the ceremony of Dhamma; it includes regards for slaves and servants, respect for teachers, restrained behavior towards living beings and donation to Sarmanas and the Brahmanas;
- 10th Major Rock Edict:
- It mentions that the king desires no more fame or glory (i.e.. - denounces fame and glory) , except in the field of Dhamma; it mentions about the supreme quality of Dhamma policy (also in the 2nd and 8th Pillar Edict and IXth Major Rock Edict.) ;
- 11th Major Rock Edict:
- It further explains the policy of Dhamma; it emphasises on giving respect to the elders, abstain from killing animals and liberalism and charity towards friends, Sramanas and Brahmans and good behaviours towards slaves and servants;
- 12th Major Rock Edict:
- Ithijika Mahamatta has been mentioned; appeal for toleration among sects i.e.. to honour the another men՚s sects; it mentions that the beloved of the Gods does not consider gifts or honour to be as important as the progress of the essential doctrines of all sects;
- 13th Major Rock Edict:
- It is the largest inscription; from the edict, we know that the Kalinga war took place in the 9th regnal year Asoka has expressed sorrow over it; King considered the victory the victory by Dhamma to be the foremost victory; Mention the Dhamma victory on the Greek being named Antiochus (probably Antichus II, Theos of Syria) ; it also mentions the Dhamma victory over the following foreign brings:-
- Ptolemy II Philadelphus - King of Egypt (285 - 247 B. C.) ;
- Alexander - King of Epirus (273 - 255 BC)
- Antigonous Gonatus -King of Macedonia (276 - 239 BC)
- Magas - King of Cyrene; It also mentions the Dhammavictory in south over the Cholas and Pandyas, as far as Ceylon (Sri Lanka) ; 2nd and 13th R. E. mentions that Pandyas, Cholas had Dhamma victory over Ceylon.
- It is the largest inscription; from the edict, we know that the Kalinga war took place in the 9th regnal year Asoka has expressed sorrow over it; King considered the victory the victory by Dhamma to be the foremost victory; Mention the Dhamma victory on the Greek being named Antiochus (probably Antichus II, Theos of Syria) ; it also mentions the Dhamma victory over the following foreign brings:-
- 14th Major Rock Edict:
- the purpose of the Rock Edicts has been mentioned.
- The Major Rock Edict are 14 in number found in Manshera (Hazara) , Shahbazgarhi (Peshawar) , Girnar (Gujarat) , Sopara (Maharashtra) , Sannati (Karnataka) , Yerragudi (Andhra Pradesh) , Dhauli (Orissa) , Jaugada (Orissa) and Kalsi (Dehradun) .
Minor Rock Edicts
The Minor Rock Edicts have been found from 20 different places:
- 2 in Afghanisatn:
- Lamghan; and
- Kandhar.
- 9 in Karnataka:
- Brahmagiri,
- Jatinga-Ram-eshvara,
- Siddapura, Maski,
- Gavimath,
- Palki-gundu,
- Nittur,
- Uddeg-olam,
- Sannati.
- 3 in Madhya Pradesh:
- Rupanath,
- Gujara,
- Pango-raria.
- 2 in Andhra Pradesh:
- Yerragudi,
- Rajula-Mandagiri,
- 1 in Bihar: Sahasaram
- 1 in Rajasthan: Bairat
- 1 in UP: Ahraura
- 1 in Delhi: Bahapur
The Pillar Edicts have been found at 13 places: 10 pillars have inscriptions upon them and 3 pillars do not have any inscriptions.
- The 10 inscribed pillars have been found at:
- Rampurva (Bihar) ,
- Lauriya-Araraja (Bihar) ,
- Lauriya-Nandangarh (Bihar) .
- Rummindei (Nepal) ,
- Nigalva (Nepal) .
- Sarnath (UP) ,
- Kausambi (UP)
- Delhi-Topra Delhi ,
- Delhi-Meerut (Delhi) and
- Madhya Pradesh at Sanchi.
- The 3 uninscribed pillars have been found at:
- Rampurva (Bihar) ,
- Bakhira⟋Koluha (Bihar)
- Sankisha (UP)
Facts
Highest pillar: Rampurva.
- Shortest pillar: Rummendei
- The best preserved pillar: Lauriya-Nanadangarh
- Most ancient Pillar: Bakhira
- Last of the pillar: Sarnath.