Question

explain the main principles of Ashoka's policy of Dhamma.

Answer 1

Ashoka occupies a unique place among the rulers of India as well as of the world not because of his conquests and the vast empire ruled by him but because of the policy of Dhamma or Dharma enunciated and implemented by him. Nevertheless Ashoka's policy of Dhamma has become a topic of debate because different scholars interpreted the contents and nature of Dhamma of Ashoka from different perspective. For many years historians have interpreted Ashoka's Dhamma as a synonym for Buddhism and believed that he made Buddhism the state religion.However this view has been questioned by modern historians, who are of the opinion that Ashoka's Dhamma is not merely moral life and righteousness based on religious beliefs but an attitude of responsibility of a ruler in a pluralistic state. These modern historians are of the opinion that ultimate aim of Ashoka's Dhamma is to create a harmonious atmosphere in the state where all people irrespective of their religious and cultural diversities, lived in peace and harmony as true friends recognizing their social responsibility with humanistic spirit in their day-to-day activities.The source of knowledge about Ashoka's Dhamma are his edicts and administrative measures. Ashoka's major rock edicts, minor rock edicts and pillar edicts that were placed at different places in India contain his views about his Dhamma. By placing them at different localities, Ashoka wanted them to be read by all people and translated by everyone. These epigraphs of years of his rule clearly reveal an evolution of his policy of Dhamma.A critical study of the epigraphs and their contents show that Ashoka made a distinction between personal faith and state policy. Ashoka consciously made this distinction because he realized the necessity of such a policy for the stability and security of his kingdom to reduce the tension created by the rise of new socio - economic formation during the Mauryan Age. Ashoka's Dhamma was an attitude of social responsibility aimed at building of an attitude of mind in which the social responsibility, the behaviour of one person towards another, was considered to be of great relevance appears to very near to the truth. 
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Answer 2

Dhamma is a prakrit word for the Sanskrit term dharma which means religious duty.