Ashokan Rock Edicts
James Prinsep, a British antiquary and colonial administrator was the first person to decipher Ashoka’s edicts. These Ashoka’s inscriptions are the first tangible evidence of Buddhism.
- They were kept in public places and along trade routes so that the maximum number of people would read them. More than religious discourses, they talk about the moral duties of the people, how to conduct life, Ashoka’s desire to be a good and benevolent ruler, and about Ashoka’s work towards this end.
Major Rocks Edicts
- There are 14 major rock edicts. They are significantly detailed and extensive.
- Major rock edicts deal with Ashoka’s vision of ....