Minor Rock Edicts
Minor Rock Edicts of Ashoka | |
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Material | Rock, stone |
Created | 3rd century BCE |
Discovered | 1893 |
Present location | India |
Part of a series on the |
Edicts of Ashoka |
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TheMinor Rock EdictsofAshoka(r. 269–233 BCE)[1]are rock inscriptions which form the earliest part of theEdicts of Ashoka,and predateAshoka's Major Rock Edicts.These are the first edicts in the Indian language of Emperor Ashoka, written in theBrahmiscript in the 11th year of his reign. They follow chronologically theKandahar Bilingual Rock Inscription,in Greek and in Aramaic, written in the 10th year of his reign (260 BCE),[2][3]which is the first known inscription of Ashoka.[4]
There are several slight variations in the content of these edicts, depending on location, but a common designation is usually used, with Minor Rock Edict N°1 (MRE1)[5]and a Minor Rock Edict N°2 (MRE2), which does not appear alone but always in combination with Edict N°1), the different versions being generally aggregated in most translations. There is also a minor edict No.3, discovered inBairat,for the Buddhist clergy.[6]
The inscriptions of Ashoka inGreekorAramaicare sometimes also categorized as "Minor Rock Edicts".
The Minor Pillar Edicts of Ashoka refer to five separate Edicts inscribed on columns, the Pillars of Ashoka. These edicts are preceded chronologically by the Minor Rock Edicts and may have been made in parallel with the Major Rock Edicts.
Chronology
[edit]The Minor Rock Edict were written quite early in the reign of Ashoka, from the 11th year of his reign at the earliest (according to his own inscription, "two and a half years after becoming a secular Buddhist", i.e. two and a half years at least after theKalinga conquestof the eighth year of his reign, which is the starting point for his gradual conversion to Buddhism). The technical quality of the engraving of the inscriptions is generally very poor, and generally very inferior to the pillar edicts dated to the years 26 and 27 of Ashoka's reign.[7]
The Minor Rock Edicts therefore follow the very first inscription of Ashoka, written in year 10 of his reign, theKandahar Bilingual Rock Inscriptionestablished atChilzina,Kandahar,in the center ofAfghanistan.[8]This first inscription was written in Classical Greek andAramaicexclusively.
The Minor Rock Edicts maybe slightly earlier than theMajor Rock Edictsestablished to propagate theDharma,from the 12th year of Ashoka's reign.[9]These Ashoka inscriptions are in Indian languages with the exception of theKandahar Greek Edict of Ashokainscribed on a limestone stele.[8]It was only later, during the 26th and 27th years of his reign, that Ashoka wrote new edicts, this time on majestic columns, thepillars of Ashoka.[9][7]
Text of the Minor Rock Edicts
[edit]The different variations of edicts on rock 1 and 2 are usually presented in the form of a compilation.[10]There is also a minor edict on Rock No.3, discovered inBairatonly, addressing not the Ashoka officers as the first two edicts, but the Buddhist clergy, with the recommendation to study a very specific list of Buddhist scriptures.[11]
In the Minor Rock Edicts, Ashoka makes explicit mention of his religious affiliation by presenting himself as a "lay disciple" or "disciple of the Buddha" according to the versions, and speaking of his proximity to "the order" (samgha), which is far from the case in most other edicts where he is only promulgating the moral laws of "Dharma".
- Association of Ashoka with the title "Devanampriya" ( "Beloved-of-the-Gods" )
There are slight variations between each of the versions of the Minor Rock Edicts. TheMaskiversion of Minor Rock Edict No.1 was historically especially important in that it confirmed the association of the honorific title"Devanampriya"withAshoka:[12][13]
[A proclamation] ofDevanampriyaAsoka.
Two and a half years [and somewhat more] (have passed) since I am aBuddha-Sakya.
[A year and] somewhat more (has passed) [since] I have visited theSamghaand have shown zeal.
Those gods who formerly had been unmingled (with men) inJambudvipa,have how become mingled (with them).
This object can be reached even by a lowly (person) who is devoted to morality.
One must not think thus, — (viz.) that only an exalted (person) may reach this.
Both the lowly and the exalted must be told: "If you act thus, this matter (will be) prosperous and of long duration, and will thus progress to one and a half.
In the Gujarra Minor Rock Edict also, the name of Ashoka is used together with his titles: "Devanampiya Piyadasi Asokaraja".[15]
- Pre-existence of pillars
In the Minor Rock Edicts, Ashoka also mentions the duty to inscribe his edicts on the rocks and on the pillars ( "wherever there is a pillar or rock" ). This has led some authors, especially John Irwin, to think that there were already pillars in India before Ashoka erected them. For John Irwin, examples today of these pillars prior to Ashoka would be the bull pillar ofRampurva,the elephant pillar ofSankissa,and theAllahabad pillarof Ashoka.[16]None of these pillars received the inscription of the Minor Rock Edicts, and only the pillar of Allahabad has inscriptions of Ashoka, which weakens this theory, since, according to the orders of the same of Ashoka, they should have been engraved with his Minor Rock Edicts.
- Language of the edicts
Several edicts of Ashoka are known in Greek and Aramaic; by contrast the many minor edicts on rock engraved in southern India inKarnatakause thePrakritof the North as the language of communication, with theBrahmiscript, and not the localDravidianidiom, which can be interpreted as a kind of intrusion and authoritarianism in respect to the southern territories.[17]
Full texts of the Minor Rock Edicts
[edit]- Minor Rock Edict No.1
In this Edict, Ashoka describes himself as aBuddhist layman(Upāsaka)[18]/aBuddha-Śaka[19]/aSaka,[20]and also explains he has been getting closer to theSanghaand has become more ardent in the faith.
English translation | PrakritinBrahmiscript |
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- Minor Rock Edict No.2
Only appears in a few places, in conjunction with Minor Edict No.1
English translation | PrakritinBrahmiscript |
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- Minor Rock Edict No.3
Only appears atBairat,where it was discovered in front of theBairat Temple,possibly the oldest free-standing temple in India. The Edict is now located in the Museum ofThe Asiatic Society,Calcutta,and because of this is sometimes called the "Calcutta-Bairāṭ inscription".[22][23]Also known as the Bhabru Edict.[24]Ashoka claims "great is my reverence and faith in theBuddha,theDharma(and) theSamgha",and makes a list of recommended Buddhist scriptures that Buddhist monks as well as the laity should repeatedly study.
English translation | PrakritinBrahmiscript |
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Locations
[edit]The minor rock edicts of Ashoka are exclusively inscribed on rock. They are located throughout the Indian subcontinent. Edict N°1 appears alone inPanguraria,Maski,Palkigundu et Gavimath,Bahapur/Srinivaspuri,Bairat, Ahraura,Gujarra,Sasaram,Rajula Mandagiri,Rupnath, Ratampurwa and in conjunction with Edict N°2 atYerragudi,Udegolam,Nittur,Brahmagiri,Siddapur,Jatinga-Rameshwara.[25]
The traditional Minor Rock Edicts (excluding the miscellaneous inscriptions inAramaicorGreekfound inPakistanandAfghanistan) are located in central and southern India, whereas theMajor Rock Edictswere located at the frontiers on Ashoka's territory.[26]
Name | Location | Map | Overview | Rock | Rubbing / Close-up |
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Bahapur | Location of Srinivaspuri near Kalkaji Temple, in theKailash Colony,near the Bahapur area, SouthDelhi Minor rock edict # 1 only.[25] 28°33′31″N77°15′24″E/ 28.55856°N 77.25662°ELocal 3D view |
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Gujarra | NearJhansi,Datia district,Madhya Pradesh. Minor rock edict # 1 only.[25]/>Here, the name of Ashoka is used together with his titles: "Devanampiya Piyadasi Asokaraja".[15][27]Full inscription/25°34′37″N78°32′45″E/ 25.57699°N 78.54594°E [28] |
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Saru Maru/ Panguraria |
Sehore District,Madhya Pradesh.Minor rock edict # 1 only[25][30] 22°43′48″N77°31′12″E/ 22.729949°N 77.519910°E In Saru Maru/Panguraria there is also a commemorative inscription referring to the visit of Ashoka as a young man, while he was still viceroy ofMadhya Pradesh:[31][32]
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Udegolam | Bellary District,Karnataka. Minor rock edict n°1 and n°2[25] 15°31′12″N76°50′01″E/ 15.52000°N 76.83361°E |
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Nittur | Bellary District,Karnataka. Minor rock edicts #1 and #2[25] 15°32′50″N76°49′58″E/ 15.54717°N 76.83270°E |
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Maski | Maski,Raichur district,Karnataka. Minor rock edict #1 only[25] "[A proclamation] of Devanampriya Asoka." "Two and a half year [and somewhat more] (have passed) since I am aBuddha-Sakya... "Full inscription 15°57′26″N76°38′28″E/ 15.95723°N 76.64122°E |
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Siddapur | NearBrahmagiri,Karnataka (14°48'49 "N 76°47'58" E). Minor rock edicts # 1 and #2[25] Full inscription 14°48′49″N76°47′58″E/ 14.81361°N 76.79944°E |
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Brahmagiri | Chitradurga district,Karnataka. Minor rock edicts n°1 and n°2[25] Full inscription 14°48′49″N76°48′22″E/ 14.81361°N 76.80611°E |
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Jatinga-Rameshwara | Near Brahmagiri, Karnataka. Minor rock edicts n°1 and n°2[25] Full inscription 14°50′59″N76°47′27″E/ 14.84972°N 76.79083°E |
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Palkigundu and Gavimath | Palkigundu and Gavimath(also called "Gavi Matha Koppal" ), Koppal district,Karnataka. Minor rock edict #1 only[25] 15°20′39″N76°08′13″E/ 15.34416°N 76.13694°E 15°20′14″N76°09′44″E/ 15.33729°N 76.16213°E |
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Rajula Mandagiri | Near Pattikonda,Kurnool district,Andhra Pradesh. Minor rock edict #1 only[25] 15°26′06″N77°28′18″E/ 15.43500°N 77.47166°E |
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Yerragudi | Gooty,nearGuntakal,Anantapur,Andhra Pradesh. Minor rock edicts n°1 and n°2.[25]TheMajor Rock Edictsare also present here.[33] 15°12′36″N77°34′37″E/ 15.20995°N 77.57688°E |
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Sasaram/ Sahasram | Rohtas District,Bihar.The edict is located near the top of the terminal spur of theKimur RangenearSasaram.[34] Minor rock edict #1 only[25] "...And where there are stone pillars here in my dominion, there also cause it to be engraved."Full inscription 24°56′29″N84°02′18″E/ 24.94138°N 84.03833°E |
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Rupnath | On Kaimur Hills nearJabalpur,Madhya Pradesh;ASI page "Two and a half years [and somewhat more] (have passed) since I am openly aSakya... "Full inscription 23°38′27″N80°01′55″E/ 23.64083°N 80.03194°E |
Image | |||
Bairat | Found on a very large rock, on the hill north ofBairat,Rajasthan. Minor rock edict #1 only[25] Full inscription 27°27′07″N76°11′06″E/ 27.45188°N 76.18499°E |
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Calcutta/Bairat | An inscription found on the hill about one mile southwest ofBairat,Rajasthan,on a block ofgraniteon the platform between theBairat Templeand the large cannon-shaped rock in front of it.[37][38] The edict was discovered by Captain Burt in 1840,[38]and transferred to the Museum of theAsiatic Society of Bengalat Calcutta, hence the name "Calcutta-Bairat", also called the Bhabra or Bhabru Edict.[39]Contains Minor rock edict #3 only, in which Ashoka gives a list of Buddhist scriptures to study.[25] "...It is known to you Sirs, how great is my faith and reverence in theBuddha,theDharmaand theSangha... "Full inscription In this inscription, Ashoka is referred to as "Piyadasi Raja Magadhe"(" Piyadasi, king of Magadha ").[40] 27°25′02″N76°09′45″E/ 27.417124°N 76.162569°E |
Modern image in the Asiatic Society |
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Ahraura | Mirzapur District,Uttar Pradesh. Minor rock edict #1 only[25][41] 25°01′12″N83°01′12″E/ 25.02000°N 83.02000°E |
Image | |||
Ratampurwa | Kaimur District,Bihar.Identical to theSasaramrock edict.[42] 25°01′05″N83°20′30″E/ 25.018067°N 83.341657°E |
Images |
Miscellaneous inscriptions often catalogued in the Minor Rock Edicts
[edit]Some Ashoka inscriptions in Greek or Aramaic, or the inscriptions of theBarabar Caves,are difficult to categorize, and are sometimes included in the "Minor Rock Edicts".
This is sometimes also the case with theKandahar Bilingual Rock Inscription(the designation of "Minor Rock Edict No.4" was proposed), although its nature is quite different from other edicts and it is the oldest of Ashoka's inscriptions (10th year of his reign).[43]
The inscriptions in Aramaic, especially theAramaic Inscription of Laghmanand theAramaic Inscription of Taxilaare also often catalogued among the minor rock edicts, although their character of edict is not very clear, and if the first was inscribed on rock, the second was inscribed on an octagonal marble pillar.
The inscriptions of theBarabar Cavesare purely dedicatory, without moral content.
Name | Location | Map | Overview | Rock | Rubbing/ Close-up |
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Kandahar Bilingual Rock Inscription | Chil-Zena Hill,Kandahar,Afghanistan Original bilingual Greek-Aramaic edition, sort of a summary or introduction of the Edicts of Ashoka. Sometimes categorized as "Minor Rock Edict No. 4", due to its more recent discovery, although it is the oldest of all Ashoka inscriptions (year 10 of his reign). Two Major Rock Edicts, theKandahar Greek Edict of Ashoka,were also discovered in Kandahar. |
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Aramaic Inscription of Laghman | Valley ofLaghman, Afghanistan Short moral injunction accompanied by information for the journey toPalmyra. |
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Aramaic Inscription of Taxila | Greek city ofSirkap,Taxila,Pakistan. Not perfectly identified inscription, engraved on a marble architectural block, mentioning "Our Lord Priyadasi" (Ashoka) twice. |
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Inscriptions of Ashoka (caves of Barabar) | Barabar Caves,Bihar |
Further reading
[edit]- Le Huu Phuoc,Buddhist Architecture.Grafikol 2009.ISBN978-0-9844043-0-8.
- Valeri P. YailenkoLes maximes delphiques d'Aï Khanoum et la formation de la doctrine du dharma d'Asoka.Dialogues d'histoire ancienne vol.16 n°1, 1990, pp. 239–256.
References
[edit]- ^Phuoc 2009, p.30
- ^India: An Archaeological History: Palaeolithic Beginnings to Early... by Dilip K. Chakrabartyp. 395
- ^Inscriptions Of Asoka, E.Hultzsch, 1925
- ^Valeri P. YailenkoLes maximes delphiques d'Aï Khanoum et la formation de la doctrine du dharma d'AsokaDialogues d'histoire ancienne vol.16 n°1, 1990, p.243
- ^Minor Rock Edict 1
- ^Inscriptions of Asoka by DC Sircarp.32-22
- ^abJohn Irwin&"The True Chronology of Aśokan Pillars",in:Artibus Asiae,Vol. 44, No. 4 (1983), p. 247-265
- ^abValeri P. YailenkoLes maximes delphiques d'Aï Khanoum et la formation de la doctrine du dharma d'AsokaDialogues d'histoire ancienne vol.16 n°1, 1990, pp.239-256
- ^abAshoka: The Search for India's Lost Emperor by Charles Allenp. 83
- ^A translation of the Edicts of Ashokap.259Archived2017-05-17 at theWayback Machine
- ^"At Bairat, a third Minor Rock Edict of Asoka was also found besides the version of Minor Rock Edict I..." in DC Sircar's Inscriptions of Asokap.32
- ^The Cambridge Shorter History of India.CUP Archive. p. 42.
- ^Gupta, Subhadra Sen (2009).Ashoka.Penguin UK. p. 13.ISBN9788184758078.
- ^Inscriptions of Asoka. New Edition by E. Hultzsch(in Sanskrit). 1925. pp. 174–175.
- ^abMalalasekera, Gunapala Piyasena (1990).Encyclopaedia of Buddhism.Government of Ceylon. p. 16.
- ^John Irwin, "The true chronology of Ashokan pillars",p.147
- ^A Sourcebook of Indian Civilization published by Niharranjan Ray, Brajadulal Chattopadhyayap.592
- ^The termUpasaka(Buddhist layman) is used in most inscriptions.Inscriptions of Asoka. New Edition by E. Hultzsch(in Sanskrit). 1925. p. 167 Note 18.
- ^abMaski inscriptionInscriptions of Asoka. New Edition by E. Hultzsch(in Sanskrit). 1925. p. 174.
- ^abRupnath inscriptionInscriptions of Asoka. New Edition by E. Hultzsch(in Sanskrit). 1925. p. 167.
- ^The termUpāsaka(Buddhist layman) is used in most inscriptions.Inscriptions of Asoka. New Edition by E. Hultzsch(in Sanskrit). 1925. p. 167 Note 18.
- ^"History of Museum Asiatic Society".www.asiaticsocietykolkata.org.
- ^Beckwith, Christopher I. (2017).Greek Buddha: Pyrrho's Encounter with Early Buddhism in Central Asia.Princeton University Press. p. 245.ISBN978-0-691-17632-1.
- ^Singh, Upinder (2017).Political Violence in Ancient India.Harvard University Press. p. 501.ISBN9780674975279.
- ^abcdefghijklmnopqIndia: An Archaeological History: Palaeolithic Beginnings to Early Historic Foundations... by Dilip K. Chakrabartyp.395
- ^Hirakawa, Akira (1993).A History of Indian Buddhism: From Śākyamuni to Early Mahāyāna.Motilal Banarsidass. p. 96.ISBN9788120809550.
- ^Sircar, D. C. (1979).Asokan studies.pp. 86–96.
- ^Beckwith, Christopher I. (2017).Greek Buddha: Pyrrho's Encounter with Early Buddhism in Central Asia.Princeton University Press. pp. 239–240, note 47.ISBN978-0-691-17632-1.
- ^Sircar, D. C. (1979).Asokan studies.
- ^abcdSircar, D. C. (1979).Asokan studies.p. Plate XVII.
- ^Gupta, The Origins of Indian Art, p.196
- ^abAllen, Charles (2012).Ashoka: The Search for India's Lost Emperor.Little, Brown Book Group. pp. 154–155.ISBN9781408703885.
- ^The Geopolitical Orbits of Ancient India: The Geographical Frames of the... by Dilip K Chakrabartyp.32
- ^BLO
- ^Inscriptions of Asoka. New Edition by E. Hultzsch(in Sanskrit). 1925. pp. 169–171.
- ^Lahiri, Nayanjot (2015).Ashoka in Ancient India.Harvard University Press. p. 37.ISBN9780674057777.
- ^Archaeological Survey Of India Four Reports Made During The Years 1862 - 63 - 64 - 65 Volume Ii.1871. pp.242–248.
- ^abJournal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal.Calcutta: Printed at the Baptist Mission Press [etc.] 1840. p. 616.
- ^"Little Vehicle to Great Vehicle": Ancient Rajasthan into Buddhist Culture, Prof. Vibha Upadhyaya, Department of History & Indian Culture, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, Indiap.97
- ^Sastri, Kallidaikurichi Aiyah Nilakanta (1988).Age of the Nandas and Mauryas.Motilal Banarsidass. p. 208.ISBN9788120804661.
- ^Ashoka Inscriptions, Sircarp.72
- ^Falk, Harry.The Minor Rock Edict of Asoka at Ratanpurwa.
- ^Inscriptions of Asoka by DC Sircarp.33