As Buddhist Emperor, Ashoka spent most of his time in spreading Buddha’s message of love, compassion, peace, and non-violence. These message he got engraved on rock faces, stones, pillars and the cave walls.
All the discovered engravings are classified in eight sections according to the chronological order. The sections are as the following—
Minor Stone Engravings—These minor engravings have been discovered from twelve sites. The one found at Gurjara and Maski contain Ashoka’s name also. In the other engravings only the epithet of ‘The favoured king of gods’ or ‘The fovoured one of the gods Priyadarshi is used.’
Bhabroo Engravings—These stone engravings have been found from Vairat Jaipur.
Chaturdasha Engravings—These were engraved in 253 B.C. Being in 14 parts they are described as ‘Chaturdasha’. They were discovered at eight places.
Kalinga Engravings—They were created in the same period i.e. 253 B.C. The engravings have been found on only two rock faces.
Cave Engravings—These engravings were found on the walls of caves situated in the hilly regions of Gaya district of Bihar. The work is suppose to have been done between 257 B.C. to 250 B.C.
Tarai Pillar Inscriptions—These inscriptions were found in Lumbini and Nileeve villages situated in Nepal’s low lying (Tarai) or foothill region. They are believed to be inscribed in 249 B.C.
Other Pillar Inscriptions—Six places have yielded this category of writings inscribed between 243 B.C. and 242 B.C.
Minor Pillar Inscriptions—This category consists of four writings discovered in Sarnath, Sanchi and Prayag. They were inscribed during the period between 242 B.C. and 232 B.C.
The fundamental principles of Buddhism are explained in these writings. So they are also known as ‘Dharmalekhas’ These engravings-inscriptions are in ‘Brahmi’ script. Except three the rest of them are in Magadhi or Pali language.
The contents of those writings are as the following—The favoured one of the gods Priyadarshi says that more than two and half years ago I practically become a Buddhist. But only a little more than a year ago I joined Sangha formally and only since then I put in real effort. In Jambudweepa (India) those gods who did not use to mix up with pupil now do because of me. It is the fruit of my effort.
Such effort is not the preserve of only big ones even the commoners can make effort and gain heavenly happiness. This discipline had been inscribed to inspire small and big everyone into making effort and being industrious. The people of the bordering areas must also knew this discipline and may my industry live on. This subject will expand and expand very wide. Atleast one and half times. This discipline must be engraved ocassionwise on the rock faces of the hills. According to this discipline (order), as far as the areas of your influence extends, the officials be sent to preach it. I got this order inscribed while I was living away (from the capital). 256 days of that period had gone by.’
Sahasrama Stone Engraving—The favoured one of gods Priyadarshi pays for more than…years I had been a worshiper but made little effort. But more than one year ago since when…meanwhile in…’
Gurjara Minor Stone Engraving—The favoured one of gods, Priyadarshi king Ashoka orders that I had been a worshiper for two and a half years…but more than a year ago, since I joined Sangha….
Similar things have been mentioned in the minor stone engravings of Gavimatha, Maski, Vairat and Palkigundu.
Brahmagiri Minor Engraving—It has a different initial text as the following.
On behalf of the Prince (Aryaputra) and Mahapatras of Suwarnagiri tell Mahapatras of Isla that we pray for your good health and inform them that the favoured one of the gods orders that for more that two and a half years….256 days have gone by.’
The rest of the text is the same as the above ones except the following addition.
The favoured one of the gods also orders that one must take care of his parents. He should also serve the teachers. Adopt good qualities of the creatures. A disciple must respect his guru and behave in a correct manner with kith, kin and others. It is the order of the ancient dharma. It blesses long life. One must act accordingly. It is scripted by a writer named ‘Chapar.’
Sidhpur Engraving—The same text is repeated here as in Brahmagiri Engraving. Jutting Rameshwara Engraving also repeats the same text. Some parts of it is broken or the surface chipped off making them illegible.
Yeragud/Minor Engraving—Besides repeating the same messages or disciplines it had follows new addition—
According to this order of the favoured one of the gods you must ask the teachers of mahauts, writers, horse riders and the Brahmins to teach their pupil according to the old tradition. This order must be obeyed. There lies the honour of the teacher. Similar education must be imparted to the woman folk of the families of the teachers by their manfolk. A teacher must teach similar values to the disciples or students for the progress and the growth of the principles of Dharma. It is the discipline of the favoured one of the gods.
Kolkata-Vairat Minor Stone Engraving—The king of Magadha, Priyadarshi bows to Sangha and humbly request and wishes its well being and trouble free. O holy sirs! You know how we are devoted to Buddha, dharma and Sangha. Holy sirs, whatever Buddha has said is good…Sirs. I think it is good because it will make noble values ever lasting. I write here names of some noble books (of Buddhism) that must be read like Vinay Samukas, Aliyavsani, Anagat Bhyani, Munigatha, Moneyasute, Uptishyapasine, Rahulovade. Holy sirs, I want the monks and nuns to read and hear these books again and again to learn by heart. So must worshipers or devotees also do. Holy sirs, I write these matters so that people understand my purpose.
Chaturdasha Engravings—The stone engravings were discovered over a very wide region almost all over India. Some of the finding sites are Girnar near Saurashtra of Gujarat state, Kalsi near Dehradun of Uttaranchal. Yeragudi near Kurnool in Andhra. And also Mansera and Shahbajgarhi in Kurnool area. In Sopara of Maharashtra some parts of only 8th and 9th section have been found. At Dhauli and Jaugarh of Orissa stones bearing 1 to 10th section and the 14th section were discovered. In place of 11th to 13th sections two new kinds of the engravings were found which are known as Extra Stone-engravings. They are engraved on rock faces of hills.
