Ashoka appointed special officials called �Dhamma Mahamatras� to improve the general life of the people and to spread Dhamma. The great ruler issued 14 rock and 7 pillar edicts, besides many minor edicts.

 

Ashoka�s services to Buddhism

 

Ashoka was one of the famous and great rulers of ancient India. The most important events of Ashoka�s reign were the conquest of Kalinga and the adoption of Buddhism.

 

The Kalinga war was the turning point in Ashoka�s life. Do you know how Ashoka became a devotee of Buddhism?

 

The death, destruction, and suffering were touched him deeply and then he vowed not to fight any war. After the Kalinga war, he became a devoted Buddhist. He studied Buddhist sculptures and made Upagupta his guru to know more about Buddhism. Ashoka visited all the places along with his guru which was connected to Buddhism.

 

Let us learn about Ashoka�s services to Buddhism.

 

� Ashoka ordered the construction of a monument in honor of Buddha.
� Monasteries (viharas) were constructed where Buddhist monks and nuns could reside.
� He constructed around 84,000 stupas.
� He sent preachers to foreign lands like Nepal, China, and Tibet to spread
Buddhism.
� The 3rd Buddhist Council at Pataliputra was assembled by Ashoka in 252 B.C. to resolve the differences in Buddhism and to improve the conduct of bhikshus (Buddhist monks).
� He also sent his son, Mahendra, and daughter, Sanghamitra to Sri Lanka to spread the message of Buddha.
� He appointed special officials called �Dhamma Mahamatras� to improve the general life of the people and to spread Dhamma.

 

Edicts and Inscription of Ashoka

 

Ashoka engraved inscriptions on the pillars to spread his message to people. The inscriptions were also written on the surface of the rocks.

 

Inscriptions

 

Ashoka adopted a new method of spreading the message of Dhamma to all the people.

 

Do you know, how the message of Ashoka was spread?

 

Ashoka engraved inscriptions on the pillars that had been set up in different parts of the empire which were known as �Pillar Edicts�. These inscriptions had provided information or message about the religion, general administration, and good conduct. The inscriptions were also written on the rocks which were known as �Rock Edicts�.

 

Do you know, how many rock and pillar edicts were there?

Ashoka issued 14 rock and 7 pillar edicts, besides many minor edicts. These edicts were the most important source of the information about Ashoka and his Empire. These edicts were also mentioned about the Ashoka�s friendly relations with other countries, particularly Ceylon, present Sri Lanka.

 

Brahmi Script

 

Do you know, in which language these inscriptions were written?
Most of the inscriptions were in the Brahmi script and most of these were composed in Prakrit language, the spoken language of the common people.

 

The Ashoka Pillar

 

Do you know, what has been adopted as the National Emblem for our country? The lion capital at Sarnath has been adopted as the National Emblem for our country.

 

Ashok The Great - MCQs

 

1. The inscriptions written on the pillar and rocks had provided information about :
a) Religion
b) Administration
c) Religion and administration
d) Religion, administration and Good conduct

 

2. Which was the most spoken language of the common people during Ashoka�s empire?
a) Sanskrit
b) Hindi
c) Tamil
d) Prakrit

 

3. The inscriptions were written in which script?
a) Indus Script
b) Devanagari Script
c) Kalinga Script
d) Brahmi Script

 

4. How many pillar edicts were issued by Ashoka?
a) 6
b) 5
c) 14
d) 7

 

5. The lion capital is situated at?
a) Pataliputra
b) Magadh
c) Ujjain
d) Sarnath

 

Ashoka The Great - MCQs

 

1. Who was the guru of Ashoka who taught him Buddhism?
a) Bindusara
b) Nanda
c) Chandragupta
d) Upagupta

 

2. The 3rd Buddhist Council was convened by whom?
a) Chanakya
b) Upagupta
c) Mahendra
d) Ashoka

 

3. Ashoka was constructed���to give residence to Buddhist monks and nuns.
a) Temples and Forts
b) Viharas and Forts
c) Monasteries and Temples
d) Monasteries and Viharas

 

4. The 3rd Buddhist Council was convened at?
a) Ujjain
b) Sri Lanka
c) Sarnath
d) Pataliputra

 

5. To which country, did Ashoka send his daughter and son to spread Buddhism?
a) Nepal
b) Japan
c) Bhutan
d) Sri Lanka

 

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