Primary Source Analysis Ashoka's Inscriptions Research Paper

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State resources were used for useful public works like the importation and cultivation of medical herbs, the building of rest houses, the digging of wells at regular intervals along main roads and the planting of fruit and shade trees. To ensue that these reforms and projects were carried out, Asoka made himself more accessible to his subjects by going on frequent inspection tours and he expected his district officers to follow his example. To the same end, he gave orders that important state business or petitions were never to be kept from him no matter what he was doing at the time.

According to Indianetzone (2009), Ashoka's inscriptions provide sufficient and reliable knowledge about the religion of Ashoka. His inscriptions are found on the rock, and pillars scattered from the Himalyas to Mysore; and Orissa to Kathiawar. The object of his inscriptions is religious and ethical. Broadly speaking, these inscriptions can be divided into three categories. Indianetzone (2009) further claim that Ashoka's inscriptions are categorized as rock edicts, pillar edicts, and cave inscriptions. Beside, Indianetzone (2009) explains them as follows:

The rock edicts may be further classified into several heads such as the minor rock edicts, fourteen rock edicts, Kalinga rock edicts, and Bharbru rock edict. The pillar edicts may further be classified into three categories. The names can be mentioned as seven pillar edicts, two commemorative pillar inscriptions, and four minor pillar edicts.

There two types of minor rock edicts which belong to 258 or 257 B.C. The firs type is found in Shabhaz district of Bihar at Sahasram in Bairat district of Rajasthan, and also Rupnath in Jabalpur district.

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The other type of minor rock edicts have been found at Brahmagiri in Mysore and at Rameshvaram. The first type of minor rock edicts enlights us with personal life of Ashoka while the second one contains a code of morals.

The fourteen rock edicts belong to 257 or 256 B.C. They indicate the ethical and political policies of Ashoka. Rock edicts xiii is the most important and lengthy of all these edicts. It gives a clear description of the Kalinga war and the change of mind which Ashoka underwent susquent to this war. It is also the important one from the historical point-of-view. The fourteen rock edicts have been found at the following place. V.i.z. Shabhazgarhi in Peshawar district; Mensera in Hazara district; Kalsi in Dehradun; Sopara in Thane district; Dhauli in Puri district; Jangarh in Ganjam district, and Ira Gurhi in Karnal

Two Kalinga rock edicts belong to 256 B.C. They can be found at places called Dhauli and Jangarh; and they refer to the administrative system through which the people of Kalinga and the other frontiers should be administered.

Bharbru rock edict belongs to 258 to 257 B.C. It was placed near Vitratt in Jaipur state. It is in this inscription that Ashoka expressed or rather confessed his faith in the Buddha, Dharma and the Samgha. He also refers seven examples of Buddhism which were dear to him and he wished that his subjects should also follow them.

Seven pillar edicts have been traced in six places whereby two pillar edicts have been found at Delhi. The seven pillar edicts have been found at Meerut, Prayag, Ambala district and.....

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