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Ashokan Edict Sites

Posted 16 Apr 2025

Updated 22 Apr 2025

2 min read

  • Period: Collection of more than 30 inscriptions on rocks, pillars, boulders, and cave walls, made by Emperor Ashoka of Mauryan Empire during his reign, from 268 BCE to 232 BCE.
    • They are the first written inscriptionsin India following decline of Harappan civilization.
    • There are 14 Major Rock Edicts, seven Pillar Edicts and some Minor Rock Inscriptions to his credit.
  • Purpose: His inscriptions were royal decrees, mostly in his own words, pertaining to social, cultural and administrative matters addressed to nobility, officials or general populace.
  • Language: Primarily Prakrit, with Aramaic and Greek in northwestern region. 
  • Script: Brahmi (Main Script), Kharoshti (Used in Gandharan Region), Greek and Aramaic. 
  • Materials: Pillars were made from buff-colored hard sandstone from Chunar and spotted red and white sandstone from Mathura.
  • Other Features of edicts: 
    • Locations of his edicts (Dhamma-lipis) which were majorly inscribed to advertise his policy of Dhamma allows us to estimate vast territorial spread of his empire.
    • Ashoka uses his name "Devanampiya" (Beloved of the Gods) in four places namely: Maski, Brahmagiri (Karnataka), Gujjara (MP), and Nettur (AP).
    • Kanganahalli Inscription Found on a stupa in Karnataka, identifies Ashoka as "Ranyo Asoka" (King Ashoka).
  • Major Rock Edicts: Girnar (Gujrat), Dhauli (Odisha), Jauguda (Odisha), Sopara (Maharashtra), Kalsi (Uttarakhand), Erragudhi (Andhra Pradesh), Sannathi (Karnataka), Shishupalgarh (Odisha); Mansehra and Shahbazgarhi (Pakistan); Kandahar (Afghanistan) (earliest known Ashokan inscription)
  • Minor Rock Edicts: Sasaram and Ratanpurwa (Bihar), Panguraria, Rupnath and Gujjara (Madhya Pradesh), Bairat (Rajasthan), Brahmagiri, Siddapura, Jatinga-Rameshwara, Maski, Gavimath, Pavigunda, Udaegolam, Nittur (Karnataka); Rajula Mandagiri and Erragudi (Andhra Pradesh), Bahapur (Delhi), Ahraura (Uttar Pradesh) 
  • Pillar Edicts: Allahabad -Kosam (Queens edict- Uttar Pradesh), Lauriya-Araraj, Lauriya-Nandangarh and Rampurva (Bihar); Delhi-Meerut, Delhi-Topra, Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh).
  • Others: Sarnath Schism edicts (Uttar Pradesh), Barabar cave inscription (Bihar). 
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  • Tags :
  • Harappan Civilization
  • Ashoka Edict Sites
  • Mauryan Empire
  • Major Rock Edicts
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