By any measure, Ashoka the Great, the Mauryan empire’s third monarch, was a tremendous leader. He inherited a vast empire from his predecessors, which he ruled for nearly four decades. Ashoka converted to Buddhism later in his rule and strove tirelessly to spread Buddha’s teachings throughout the world. He had inscriptions etched on rocks and pillars installed across his empire. These inscriptions attest to Ashoka’s belief in Buddhist doctrine. The below article concerns the inscriptions of Ashoka, the 14 edicts, and Ashoka Dhamma.

King Ashoka’s Dhamma

• Around 260 BC, King Ashoka made Buddhism the state religion. He made Dhamma practice mandatory, and it became the cornerstone of his kind and compassionate administration
• The 10 principles preached by Lord Buddha were the foundation of Ashoka Dhamma
• So, what was Ashoka’s Dhamma? The word ‘Dhamma’ comes from the Sanskrit term ‘Dharma’. Dharma wasn’t a specific religious belief or practice, nor was it a hastily devised royal policy
• A great way to understand the meaning of Dhamma is to read the edicts of Ashoka, which were written to convey the Dhamma concepts to people.
• Ashoka Dhamma was concerned with generalised norms of social conduct and activities. The King attempted to integrate numerous social norms prevalent during his reign. Dhamma was a way of life enshrined in a code of behaviour and a set of ideals that he advised his subjects to follow to live in peace and prosperity
• Dhamma policies included the following:
  • Parents must be obeyed and respected, and teachers must be revered
  • Brahmanas and Buddhist monks should be respected
  • Abolition of death sentences
  • Animal sacrifices and the killing of birds are prohibited
  • Inappropriate rituals and superstitious practices are discouraged
  • Building wells and rest houses, as well as planting trees
  • Ahimsa (non-violence) and truthfulness should be practised
  • The masters’ treatment of enslaved people and servants should be humane
  • All religious sects must be tolerated
  • Instead of conflict, dharma conquest is preferred
  • Human and animal health care to be provided
  • Provisions to help the poor and the elderly
• Through the publication of 14 edicts, he spread these beliefs. During his rule, he spread all of these edicts across his domain
• Ashoka entrusted Dhamma Mahamatras to impart the Dhamma to the people. They were even sent to neighbouring nations to promote it

Inscriptions of Ashoka

• The Inscriptions of Ashoka provide sufficient information on Ashoka’s rule. From the Himalayas to Mysore, Kathiawar to Odisha, his inscriptions can be discovered on rocks and pillars
• Asoka was able to expound on Ashoka Dhamma through the edicts. These inscriptions are religious and ethical in nature
• Cave inscriptions, pillar edicts, and rock edicts are the three types of inscriptions found
• The inscriptions focus on the King’s conversion to Buddhism, his attempts to disseminate Buddhism, his religious and moral precepts, and his animal and social welfare initiatives
• The edicts were centred on Ashoka’s ideas about governance, social behaviour, and religion

King Ashoka’s Edicts

• The Edicts are categorised into four groups according to their size (major and minor) and medium (pillars and rocks)
• Minor inscriptions seem to come before larger ones chronologically, while rock inscriptions appear to have begun earlier than pillar inscriptions
• The four groups of edicts are:
  • Major Rock Edicts
  • Minor Rock Edicts
  • Major Pillar Edicts
  • Minor Pillar Edicts.
• The content of both Minor Pillar and Rock Edicts is quite religious. They extensively discuss the Buddha, Buddhism, the Sangha, and Buddhist scriptures
• The Major Pillar Edicts and Major Rock Edicts, on the other hand, are primarily moral and political in nature
• They never refer to the Buddha or formal Buddhist teachings. They instead focus on order, correct behaviour, and non-violence under the concept of “Dhamma.”
• They also pay attention to state management and good relations with other countries

Significant Features of the Edicts

• Asoka’s edicts are notable because he sees himself as a parent figure. He frequently refers to the King’s bond with his subjects as a father-child relationship
• Despite his theological eclecticism, Ashoka condemned any ineffective ceremonies and sacrifices performed under the influence of superstition
• The first Rock Edict forbids animal sacrifice rituals and joyous gatherings
• The second Rock Edict outlines his varied initiatives, including creating roads and healthcare facilities for both men and animals
• This is followed by instructions to be liberal and compassionate to both sramanas and Brahmins
• Ashoka emphasises the significance of the family throughout his edicts. Respect for elders, a compassionate attitude toward servants, and a high social duty and civic morals are all stressed
• Several great rock edicts discuss different parts of the Ashoka Dhamma
• But, the Major Rock Edict XI offers a detailed exposition of the Dhamma, in addition to dealing with compassion and human kinship

Conclusion

King Ashoka was among the greatest rulers of the ancient subcontinent of India. He is known in history for formulating the concept of Dhamma or Dharma. Ashoka Dhamma was a way of life that he encouraged people to follow. During his reign, the King had numerous inscriptions etched on pillars and rocks dispersed throughout his empire. The collection of these inscriptions on pillars, rocks, and cave walls are called edicts. These edicts detail Ashoka’s perspective on Dhamma, a sincere attempt to address some of the complex societal issues.

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