MAURYAN

PERIOD PART 2
❑ The Rock Edicts was the first tangible evidence of, how
Buddhism spread under the patronage of the most
powerful monarchs of Indian history.

❑ These edicts were deciphered by the British

archaeologist and historian James Princep.

❑ Edicts were basically decoding of practical instructions

in running kingdom such as the irrigation systems
design and descriptions of Monarchs beliefs in peaceful
moral behaviour.
Major Rock Edict I
In this rock edicts, King prohibited animal slaughter
especially during the festive gatherings.

Major Rock Edict II

In this rock edict, there are descriptions of Kingdoms of
South India like Chola, Pandyas, Satyapura and Keralputra.
It also provides for care for man and animals.
Major Rock Edict III
It was made after 12 years of Asoka’s coronation.
It says that the Yuktas (subordinate officers and Pradesikas
(district Heads) along with Rajukas (Rural officers) shall go
to the all areas of kingdom every five years and spread the
Dhamma Policy of Asoka.
It also decoded the practical instructions to generosity to
Brahmins.
Major Rock Edict IV
Dhammaghosha is ideal to the mankind and not the
Bherighosa.
Impact of Dhamma on society.

Major Rock Edict V

It states about the concerns about the policy towards
slaves and mentioned the appointment of
Dhammamahamatras.
Dhammamahamatras were special officers appointed by Emperor
Ashoka in order to spread and enforce the principles of dhamma
In this rock edict, Ashoka mentions that ”Every Human is
my child”.
Major Rock Edict VI
It describes King’s desire to get informed about the
conditions of the people constantly.
It talks about welfare measures.

Major Rock Edict VII

It decoded the practical instructions of King to tolerance
for all religions - “To foster one’s own sect, depreciating
the others out of affection for one’s own, to exalt its merit,
is to do the worst harm to one’s own sect.”
Major Rock Edict VIII
It describes Asoka’s first Dhamma Yatra to Bodhgaya &
Bodhi Tree.

Major Rock Edict IX

It condemns the popular ceremonies like ceremonies after
birth, illness, marriage and before setting out of journey.
It also stress on the practice of dhamma.

Major Rock Edict X

It condemns the fame and glory and reasserts the merits
of the dhamma policy.
Major Rock Edict XI
It explained the policy of dhamma and also emphasises
the act of individual towards elders and also abstaining
from killing animals and liberality towards friends
Rock Edict XII
It directed and determined request for tolerance among
different religious sects.
Major Rock Edict XIII
It is the paramount importance in understanding the
Ashok’s Policy of dhamma.
This rock edict pleads the way of conquest which is
dhamma instead of war.
This is logical culmination of the thorough processes which
began from the 1st rock edict.
Major Rock Edict XIV
It describes engraving of inscriptions in different parts of
country.
Other Rock Edicts and inscriptions
1. Edict I: Asoka declared all people are my sons
2. Edict II: proclamation of edicts even to a single person.
3. Queen Edict: Mentions about second queen of Asoka
4. Barbara cave Inscription: Discusses giving away the
Barbara cave to Ajivika sect.
5. Bilingual Rock Inscription: Expresses
gratification(Pleasure) over Ashoka’s policy
Pillar Edicts
Asoka’s 7 pillar edicts have been found at Topra (Delhi), Meerut,
Kausambhi, rampurva, Champaran, Mehrauli.
Minor pillar edicts have been found at Sanchi, Sarnath,
Rummindei(Lumbni,Nepal), Nigalisagar(Nepal).

1. Pillar Edict I: Asoka’s principle of protection to people

2. Pillar Edict II: Defines dhamma as minimum of sins, many
virtues, compassion, liberality, truthfulness and purity
3. Pillar Edict III: Abolishes sins of harshness, cruelty, anger,
pride etc
4. Pillar Edict IV: Deals with duties of Rajukas
5. Pillar Edict V: List of animals and birds which should not be
killed on some days and another list of animals which have not
to be killed at all occasions. Describes release of 25 prisoners by
Asoka.
6. Pillar Edict VI: Dhamma Policy

7. Pillar Edict VII: Works done by Asoka for Dhamma

Policy. He says that all sects desire both self control and
purity of mind.

Other Pillar Inscription

1. Rummindei Pillar Inscription: Asokha’s visit to Lumbini
& exemption of Lumbini from tax.
2. Nigalisagar Pillar Inscription: It was originally located at
Kapilvastu. It mentions that Asoka increased the height of
❑ The Mauryan Empire was divided into four provinces with
the imperial capital at Pataliputra.
❑ From Ashokan edicts, the name of the four provincial
capitals were Tosali (in the east)Odisha, Ujjain in the west
M.P, Suvarnagiri (in the south)Karnatka, and Taxila (in the
north)Punjab Province of Pakistan.
❑ According to Megasthenese, the empire exercised a
military of 600,000 infantry, 30,000 cavalry, and 9,000 war
elephants.
❑ For the purpose of internal and external security, there
was a vast espionage system was there to keep a watch
on the officials and messengers went to and fro.
❑ Kings appointed officials to collect taxes from herders,
farmers, traders and craftsmen etc.
❑ The king was the centre of administrative superstructure
and king used to select ministers and high officials.
Administrative structure was as follows:

❑ King was assisted by Mantriparishad (council of ministers)

whose members included Mantriparishad Adhyaksha and
below him was as following:

❑ Yuvaraj: The crown prince

❑ Purohita: The chief priest
❑ The Senapati: The commander in chief
❑ Amatya: Civil servants and few other ministers.
❑ Scholars suggest that Mauryan Empire was further divided
into various departments with important officials:
❑ Revenue department:-
❑ Sannidhata: Chief treasury,
❑ Samaharta: collector general of revenue.
❑ The coins of this period were punch-marked coins
called Puranas, Karshapanas or Pana.
❑ It was a coin made of Silver.
 Military department:
❑ Megasthenese mentions a committee with six
subcommittees for coordinating military activity.
❑ one looked after the navy, the second managed
transport and provisions, and the third was responsible
for foot-soldiers, the fourth for horses, the fifth for
chariots and the sixth for elephants.

Espionage Department:
❑ Mahamatyapasarpa controlled Gudhapurushas (secret
agents)

❑ Police department:
❑ The jail was known as Bandhangara and it was different
from lock-up called Charaka.
❑ There were police head quarters in all principal centres.
 Provinicial and Local Administration:
❑ Pradeshika: modern district magistrates,
❑ Sthanika: tax collecting officer under Pradeshika,
❑ Durgapala: governor of fort,
❑ Antapala: Governor of frontier,
❑ Akshapala: Accountant general,
❑ Lipikaras: Scribes,
❑ Gopas: responsible for accountants etc.
❑ Rajukas:the provincial officials who were mostly
engaged in clerical and accounting works. They had full
power and freedom in controlling the rural
administration and also can give capital punishment.
 Municipal Administration:
Important officials:
❑ Nagaraka: incharge of city administration,
❑ Sita- Adhyaksha: Supervisor of agriculture,
❑ samastha-Adhyaksha:superintendent of market,
Navadhyaksha: Superintendent of ships,
❑ Sulkaadhyaksha: Collector of tolls,
❑ Lohadhyaksha: Superintendent of Iron,
❑ Akaradhyaksha:Superintendent of mines and
Pauthavadhyaksha:Superintendent of weight and
measures etc.
❑ Megasthenes referred for six committees of which five
were to look after Pataliputra’s administration.
Industries, Foreigners, Registration of birth and deaths,
Trade, Manufacture and sale of goods and Collection of
sales tax were under the control of administration.
Mauryan Empire: Art and Architecture

❑ Mauryan rule marks an important phase in our

cultural history.

❑ Mainly in the period of Ashoka, the art and

architecture was at its zenith and fall within the
category of court art.

❑ Ashoka embraced Buddhism and the immense

Buddhist missionary activities that followed
encouraged the development of distinct sculptural and
architectural styles.
❑ The architectural remains have been found between
the period of the Harappans and the Mauryas.

❑ In this period buildings are not made up of stone.

❑ After the decline of Harappan civilization, long gap was

generated and in the Mauryan period only monumental
stone sculpture, production of masterpieces and
architecture appeared.
❑ Therefore, Mauryan rule marks an important phase in
our cultural history.
❑ Mainly in the period of Ashoka, the art and architecture
was at its zenith and fall within the category of court
art.
❑ Ashoka embraced Buddhism and the immense Buddhist
missionary activities that followed encouraged the
development of distinct sculptural and architectural
styles.
Stupas of Mauryan period
❑ In the Mauryan period, mainly in the period of Ashoka
numerous stupas were constructed and scattered all over
the country.
❑ The stupas of solid domes were constructed of brick or stone
with different sizes.
❑ The Ashoka stupas were constructed to celebrate the
achievements of Gautama Buddha.
❑ Like stupa at Bairat Rajasthan in the third century B.C., The
Great Stupa at Sanchi(oldest in India) was built with bricks
and several changes were done.
❑ The inner wall of the stupa was built either by terracotta
bricks (Burnt Bricks) or by sun-burnt bricks.
❑ Kesariya stupa in champaran in Bihar is the largest buddha
stupa
❑ The top of the dome was decorated by a wooden or
stone umbrella which denotes the universal supremacy
of Dharma.
❑ Parikrama was also there by encircling the stupa.
❑ The Amravati stupa was built in the Lower Krishna
Valley in 200 A.D.
❑ Nagarjunakonda Ghantasala stupas built in later ages in
South India.
❑ Stupa consisted of a cylindrical drum and a circular anda
with harmika and chhatra on the top which remains
consistent throughout with minor variations and
changes in shape and size.
❑ Gateways were also added in the later periods.
Pillars of Mauryan period

❑ The most famous and mind boggling monuments

of Mauryan art were the Pillars, the pillars of Dharma.
❑ These Pillars were not used for support and stand free
in columns.
❑ Two main parts of the pillars were the shaft and the
capital.
❑ A monolith column made of one piece of stone with
exquisite polish is a shaft.
❑ Polishing art of the pillar is very unique and seems to be
like a metal.
❑ Usually animal figures are the capital figures and carved
standing on a square or circular abacus.
❑ Abacuses are decorated with stylized lotuses.
❑ Capital of Mauryan period found at Sarnath near Varanasi,
known as the Lion Capital.
❑ one of the finest examples of Mauryan sculpture and built by
Ashoka in commemoration of Dhammachakrapravartanan or
we can say first sermon of Buddha.
❑ The capital has four Asiatic lions seated back to back, which
symbolize power, courage, pride and confidence.
❑ The sculpture surface was polished and the drum was there on
the bell base, i.e. Abacus has the depiction of chakra or wheel
on all four directions and a bull, horse, an elephant and a lion
between every chakra.
❑ It has 24 spokes and these 24 spoke chakra is adopted to the
National Flag of India.
❑ The circular abacus is supported by an inverted lotus capital.
❑ This has been adopted as the National Emblem of
Independent India, but it does not have a shaft, the lotus and
crowning wheel.
Caves of Mauryan Period
❑ Instead of pillars, rock cut caves are also an artistic
achievement of Ashoka’s reign.
❑ The caves at Barabar hill in the north of Gaya and the
Nagarjuni hill caves, the Sudama caves, etc. are the
several examples of cave architecture.
❑ The hills of Barabar caves were donated by Ashoka to
Ajivika monks and three separate caves at Nagarjuni
hills were by Dasharatha to them.
❑ The cave of Gopika was excavated in the reign of
Dasratha in a tunnel like fashion.
❑ The interior part of the cave is polished like a mirror.
Buildings and Palaces of Mauryan period
❑ The palace of Mauryan period had gilded pillars with
golden vines and silver birds.
❑ All the towns were surrounded by the high walls with
battlements, water ditches, bearing lotuses and plants.

❑ Pottery of Mauryan period

❑ Black polished type pottery found in North India is an
example of this period.
❑ It has a burnished and glazed surface.
❑ Kosambi and Patliputra were the centres of this
pottery.