The Ashoka Rock Edict under the Foothills of Girnar
Ashoka Maurya also is known as Ashoka the Great, was an Indian emperor of the Maurya Dynasty who ruled most of the Indian Subcontinent from 269 B.C. to 232 B.C. After witnessing the mass deaths of the Kalinga War, which he had waged out of a desire for conquest he embraced Buddhism. He was later dedicated to the propagation of Buddhism across Asia, and established monuments marking several significant sites in the life of Gautama Buddha. Ashoka’s Rock Edicts belong to 250 BC where around 14 edicts of Ashoka are located on the route to the Mount Girnar Hills. This rock edict is a huge stone and the carving in Brahmi script in Pali language mentions the resistance to greed and animal sacrifice and also moralize the principles of purity of thought, secularism in thinking, kindness, and gratitude.
On the way to Girnar Hill, one can see the fourteen rock edicts of the Great Indian Emperor Ashoka. The edicts are dating back to 250 BC. These were rediscovered by James Todd. Edicts exhibited in the building are carved out of large granite stones with inscriptions written. Inscriptions on the stones tell about the philosophy of Ashoka’s respect for all religions, developing a positive attitude, kindness to everyone, and resistance to greed and animal sacrifice. On the top of Girnar hill, one can notice a large black coloured granite slab that has major rock edicts written by Ashok. Edicts also show the life history of King Ashok, how he gave up war and violence and became a firm follower of Buddhism. All the edicts have a strong historical connection and they all impart the message of peace, tolerance and communal harmony. Edicts are proof that the people of the area were once under the influence of Buddhism. If you are planning to visit Girnar, the Ashoka Edicts are a good pit stop to have and learned about the glorious past of India.
