Prelimsverse: Ashokan Rock Edicts (Site location and Messages)

Sites and Purpose of Ashokan Rock Edict

Site of Asoka’s major Rock EdictsPurpose of the edict
Major Rock Edict IProhibits animal slaughter. Bans festive gatherings and killings of animals.
Major Rock Edict IIProvides care for man and animals.Describes recipients as the Chola, Pandyas, Satyapura and Cheras Kingdoms
Major Rock Edict IIIIt says that the Yuktas (subordinate officers) and Pradesikas (district Heads) along with Rajukas (Rural officers) shall go to all areas of the kingdom every five years and spread the Dhamma Policy of Asoka.
Major Rock Edict IVDhammaghosa is ideal to mankind and not the Bherighosa. Impact of Dhamma on society.
Major Rock Edict VConcerns about the policy towards slaves. He mentions in this rock edict “Every Human is my child”.
Major Rock Edict VIKing’s aspiration to know about his people’s circumstances. About welfare measures.
Major Rock Edict VIIRequests tolerance for all religions
Major Rock Edict VIIIDescribes Asoka’s first Dhamma Yatra to Bodhgaya & Bodhi Tree.
Major Rock Edict IXCondemns popular ceremonies.
Major Rock Edict XCondemns the desire for fame and glory. 
Major Rock Edict XIElaborates on principles of Dhamma.
Major Rock Edict XIITolerance for all religions and sects.
Major Rock Edict XIIIMentions conquest over Kalinga. Mentions Ashoka’s Dhamma victory over Greek Kings Antiochus of Syria (Amtiyoko), Ptolemy of Egypt (Turamaye), Magas of Cyrene (Maka), Antigonus of Macedon (Amtikini), Alexander of Epirus (Alikasudaro). Also mentions Pandyas, Cholas, etc.
Major Rock Edict XIVDescribes engraving of inscriptions in different parts of the country.
Major Rock Edicts

Sites and location of Ashokan Rock Edicts

Sites of Asokan EdictsLocation
AHRAURABaneras, UP
Allahabad-KosamUP
BairatRajasthan
Barabar Hill CavesBihar (Ajivika sect)
BroachSaurashtra (Gujarat)
BrahmagiriKarnataka
Delhi-MeerutDelhi-Meerut
DhauliOdisha
GavimathKarnataka
GirnarGujarat
GujarraJhansi, MP
Jatinga-RameshwarKarnataka
JaugadaOdisha
KalsiNear Dehradun, Uttarakhand
KandanarAfghanistan
LampayaAfghanistan
Lauriya-ArarajBihar
Lauriya-NandangarhBihar
MahasthanBengal
MansehraPakistan (Inscribed in Kharosthi)
MaskiKarnataka
Nigali-SagarNepal
PalkigunduKarnataka
PataliputraBihar
Rajula-MandagiriAndhra Pradesh
RampuryaBihar
RummindeiNepal
RupanathKaimur hills, MP
SahasramBihar
SanchiMP
SannatiKarnataka
SarnathUP
ShahbazgarhiPakistan (Kharosthi Script)
SiddapurKarnataka
SohgauraUP
SoparaMaharashtra
Suvarnagiri Karnataka
TamraliptiBengal
TaxilaPakistan
UjjainMP
YerragudiKurnool, Andhra Pradesh
Locations of Ashokan Rock Edicts

Language of the Inscriptions

Three languages and four scripts were used.  Prakrit inscriptions were written in Brahmi and Kharosthi scripts, which even a commoner could read and understand.  A few northern Edicts are written in the Greek language, using Greek script, or in the Aramaic language, using the Aramaic script.  The Kandahar Rock Inscription is bilingual Greek-Aramaic.

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