Pillar Edicts


The Mauryan emperor Ashoka (r. 269–32 B.C.E.) commissioned a set of inscriptions comprising formal pronouncements on royal policy, as well as advice and instructions to his followers on a number of themes, including religious toleration.

Despite the fact that these edicts were located in a variety of locations, the wording of each one was essentially identical across the Mauryan empire.

The pillar edicts were written on polished Chunar sandstone pillars and set along the empire's principal roadways, where they would have been visible to passing traffic.

In this way, they differed from the rock edicts, which were etched into massive rocks at the Mauryan empire's frontiers, symbolically marking the empire's bounds.

Maurya dynasty is another name for the Maurya dynasty.

~Kiran Atma


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