the significant of Asokan edict inscription
Answers
The historical significance of Ashoka’s Inscriptions are as follows:
There is not one, but there are several sources combined together which provide sufficient information about Maruyan dynasty
Infact, Mauryan dynasty can be called as the first historical dynasty in India. As pointed out by Dr. V.A. Smith. ‘With the establishment of Maruyan dynasty, the history of ancient Indian emerges from darkness to light.
The Puranas of the Hidnus, Buddhist texts like Dipavanasa, Mahabodhivansa and Mahavansa, and Jain texts like Kaplasutra of Bhadrabhahu, Parisista-Parva of Hemachandra form some of the important sources. Amongst descriptions of foreign writers, particularly those of the Greeks, the accounts of Nearchus, Herodotus, Aristobulus and Megasthenes have been regarded valuable. Here I am giving in detail the description about some main historical sources of Maruyan History.
(a) Indica: Indica is the famous historical work of famous Greek traveler Megastheness (who had been sent by Selucus to the court of Chandragupta). In this book he has described whatever he saw or heard about India during his stay of 5 years in India. He wrote a detailed description of the central, city, military and provincial administration of Chandragupta Maruya. Though his book ‘Indica’ is not available now but references from it have been found in the works of other Greek historians.
Historical Importance of Asoka’s Edicts: Asoka’s edicts and inscriptions are an invaluable source of Indian history. They throw a good deal of light on all aspects of Asoka. Perhaps, without them we would not have been able to know as much about that great monarch. It has been rightly remarked.
They are a unique collection of documents. They give us insight into his inner feeling and ideals and transmit across the centuries almost the very words of the Emperor. ‘These edicts and inscriptions provide us with the following useful historical material about Asoka and his times.
Extent of Ashoka’s Empire: Asoka’s edicts and inscriptions have been found inscribed on rocks, pillars and caves, the locations of which have helped us a lot in forming an idea of the extent of Asoka’s Empire. For instance, the discovery of ‘The Minor Rock Edicts’, at three different places in Mysore would suggest that state also formed a part of Asoka’s Empire.
Asoka’s Personal Religion: It is form these edicts that we come to know that Asoka’s personal religion was Buddhism and that he forbade the slaughter of animals, made pilgrimages to the holy places of Buddhism, sent missions in foreign lands and prescribed certain rules for the Buddhist monks, etc.
Asoka’s Dharma and Policy of Toleration: These edicts make it quite clear that Asoka was a tolerant ruler. Though he himself belonged to the Buddhist faith he never persecuted the other religionists. He got constructed three caves for the Jain Sadhus. Similarly the Dharma that he put before his people was not his personal religion, i.e. Buddhism. It was the essence of all the religion and contained some accepted principles of ethics. This side of Asoka’s greatness is also revealed by his edicts and inscriptions.
Asoka’s Administration: These edicts and inscriptions throw a good deal of light on Asoka’s administration and the steps taken by him for the welfare of his subjects. Like a father to his son, Asoka did to his subjects. He constructed many new roads, planted shady trees, built saris at every two kops, opened new hospitals, ordered his officers to follow his ideal of public-welfare.
Asoka’s Character: Asoka’s edicts and inscriptions show him to be a kind brother, the noblest man of earth, tolerant towards other religionists, kind both to men and beasts and always devoted to the welfare of his subjects. In Kalinga Edict II he says, ‘All men are my children and just as I desire for my children that they may enjoy every kind of prosperity and happiness both in this world and in the next so also do I desire the same for all men’ can there be anything nobler than this?
Mauryan Art: These edicts and inscriptions have been found inscribed on rocks, and caves. These pillars are still renowned all over the world for their exceptional beauty and fineness. The polish which these pillars bear still shines in spite of the ravaging influence of rain and bad weather for the last so many centuries. We wonder at the skill of the Maruyan engineers who carried these huge pillars to places which lay thousands of miles away from each other. The Maruyan sculptors had done miracles, while they thought like a giant they executed like a jeweller.
Literacy: These edicts were meant for the common people and they have been found in almost all part of India. From this we can easily conclude that a great percentage of the people in the Mauryan period were literate, who could read those edicts, otherwise there was no sense in spending so much amount .