Serial nomination for Ashokan Edict sites along the Mauryan Routes

Emperor Ashoka, the third ruler of the Mauryan dynasty, reigned over the Indian subcontinent from around 268 to 232 BCE and is renowned for his significant influence and accomplishments in ancient times. He is primarily remembered for his conversion to Buddhism and his dedicated efforts to propagate Buddha's teachings across the world through his vast empire. Preservation of his historical legacy, largely through his own writings in the form of edicts, sets Ashoka apart in that particular period of global history. As a prominent figure in ancient India, Ashoka dedicated substantial time and contemplation to convey his moral principles by inscribing them on stone edicts for public awareness. These Ashokan edicts hold particular significance as they represent the earliest tangible evidence of the spread of Buddhism. In these inscriptions, Ashoka proclaims his commitment to Buddhist philosophy, referred to as "dharma", which can be translated as "law".

The later written accounts of Emperor Ashoka describe him as a monarch who ruled over Jambudvipa (Indian subcontinent) with the implicit discipline rather than the actual use of force and army. His vast empire extended across India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, roughly comprising of the Indian Subcontinent. Ashoka made a significant change by relocating the capital of the Magadha kingdom from Rajagriha to Pataliputra in the north. Along the northern axis, there existed a well-established communication network known as the Uttara-patha, which connected regions from beyond Taxila to the eastern coast at Tamralipti. This route was bustling with traders, peddlers, caravan leaders, religious figures, and princes who frequently traveled it. Ashoka himself journeyed from Pataliputra to Malwa on the orders of his father, Bindusara, for both political and commercial reasons. This journey followed a well-trodden path, part of a broader network of routes known as Dakshinapath or the Southern route. Traders mainly used this route to transport goods from southern regions, and Ashoka likely observed regional differences as he traveled to Ujjayini in Malwa. Many Ashokan edicts were disseminated along these routes, making the Uttarapatha and Dakshinapath prominent in Ashoka's inscriptions.

The political structure of ancient India relied heavily on communication with provincial officials. Taxila was located in the northwest, Malwa in the south, and Kalinga in the east. Ashoka inherited an empire that spanned from Gujarat to Bengal and from Afghanistan to Karnataka. To manage an empire of this size, regular communication with provincial leaders, often from the royal family, was necessary. Ashoka, having served as a viceroy in Ujjayini, continued the practice of delegating authority to close male relatives to oversee various provinces. He issued directions and orders to these local administrators through edicts. One significant post-Kalinga development in communication was Ashoka's decision to inscribe many of his proclamations on stone and display them in public places. Initially, Ashoka's messages were relatively short, typically ranging from six to twenty-two lines. The term "short" is relative, as later inscriptions, referred to as minor rock edicts. The major rock edicts were extensive messages, often covering multiple rock surfaces and comprising more than a hundred lines. The term "major" reflects both the length and importance of these messages.

Ashoka employed a consistent format for his messages to administrators across his widespread empire. To achieve this, he ensured that multiple copies of his messages were dispatched. Around 600 BCE, monarchs emerged from traditional backgrounds to establish and govern various kingdoms spanning from the north-western highlands to the Ganges lowlands and southwards to the Godavari river on the Deccan plateau. These edicts, as mentioned, were placed on the outskirts of towns and along caravan routes, making them accessible to travelers and itinerant individuals. Today, remnants of the messages Ashoka initially dispatched to his provinces can still be found at many of their original locations because they were engraved on immovable rocks and boulders.

There is a diverse range of surfaces on which these inscriptions were engraved. Some are on relatively flat horizontal rock faces, like those in Rajula Mandagiri (Andhra) and near Srinivaspuri (New Delhi). Others, such as those in Maski and Nittur (Karnataka), are engraved on vertical surfaces. The accessibility of these rocks varies, with some, like the Bairat edict in the Jaipur district of Rajasthan, being at the base of a hillside, while others, like the Erragudi edict in the Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, are on steep and somewhat inaccessible ridges. Ashoka began engaging with his people at the grassroots level only after his conversion to Buddhism, as there are no inscriptions reflecting this intent during his pre-Buddhist phase. His presence as an enthusiastic Buddhist ruler is evident across many regions of his empire, including the North (Delhi, Ahraura, Ratanpurwa, and Sasaram), Central India (Gujjara and Rupnath), and the Deccan. In fact, the Deccan witnessed the most frequent expression of his identity as a Buddhist convert, with this message being inscribed in ten different locations. He openly declared himself as a Sakya, signifying a Buddhist, after the Buddha's renowned title 'Sakyamuni'. In some versions of the message, he also referred to himself as a lay follower ('upasake') of the Buddhist faith.

In the later period, major rock edicts were displayed in multiple locations but they were inscribed on the pillars instead of natural rock. The transition from the time of inscribing major rock edicts to engraving these pillar edicts marked a shift in Ashoka's approach to promoting morality rooted in dhamma (Buddhist doctrine). The messages on these pillars are consistent and primarily located in a significant part of North India, particularly in the north Bihar region of the Gangetic plains, including Lauriya-Araraj, Lauriya-Nandangarh, and Rampurva. Additionally, there is a pillar with a similar message located in Allahabad, originally from Kaushambi.

All of these stone edicts were written in the Brahmi script, using a language that was a blend of Prakrit dialects. The first Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India, Alexander Cunningham, contributed significantly to the historical interpretation of Ashoka through his analysis of these inscriptions.

Ashoka’s desire to be heard and recognized in regions as diverse as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Andhra, Karnataka, and Kalinga, emphasis that Ashoka's version of his life and accomplishments likely became the most widely known, especially during his own lifetime. The edicts constitute a significant part of the extensive works dedicated to the unforgettable monarch, Ashoka. His remarkable contribution marked the beginning of a new phase in his rule, as he chose to inscribe his messages in stone. Ashoka's decision to create multiple copies of his messages and dispatch them to various provinces aimed to achieve text-based mass communication - a strategy that greatly expanded the reach of his message. In contrast to previous rulers, Ashoka sought to establish an image of himself through the words of his message, aiming to convey a consistent image of himself throughout his vast empire. It was crucial to him that his subjects across the entire land he ruled could hear his singular voice. The style of this new form of communication was highly personalized. By inscribing these messages on stone, Ashoka made an unprecedented effort to connect with his people in the very places they resided and practiced their faith. Through this approach, he established a subcontinental presence for himself.

Criteria (iii): The Ashokan edicts are a remarkable testimony to the cultural and religious practices of Buddhism. It provides crucial details on the policies, convictions, and legacy of the emperor and illustrates the effect of Buddhism and the moral standards propagated during Mauryan rule. They serve as important historical records, providing details about the Mauryan Empire, its territories, administrative divisions, and the languages and scripts, used during that time.

Criteria (iv): The messages through edicts themselves were shaped, influenced, enhanced, and modified in the contextual surrounding landscape. The Ashokan pillar edicts themselves hold architectural importance as they are remarkable examples of ancient Indian craftsmanship and engineering. The pillars feature intricate carvings and animal capitals, such as lions. These architectural elements reflect the artistic skills and symbolic representations of that period.

Criteria (v): Ashoka’s imprint remains vivid because of the unique combination of words on rocks that acquires a resonance both from the remarkable ruins of settlements and stupas as well as local traces of Mauryan intervention. Ashoka placed his edicts in strategic locations along major trade routes, pilgrimage sites, and important population centers. By doing so, he ensured that his messages reached a wide audience, including traders, pilgrims, and local inhabitants which demonstrates a keen understanding of human movement and communication patterns, taking advantage of natural routes for communication. Overall, the Ashokan inscriptions illustrate how ancient civilization engaged with their environment, taking advantage of local resources and landscape features to communicate with people and impact their societies positively.

The Ashokan edicts hold the distinction of being the first written inscriptions in India following the decline of the ancient city of Harappa. Remarkably, many of these edicts remain visible at their original locations due to being carved into immovable rocks and boulders. Through these inscriptions on stones and pillars, Ashoka shared pivotal moments from his royal life. His words offer a glimpse into how he reshaped his own journey while attempting to transform the lives of people within his empire and even beyond its borders. The Ashokan edicts convey a wide range of emotions, including sincerity and sentiment, discussions of death and devastation and authoritative commands. The remarkable preservation of these rock edicts is notable. Despite being over 2,200 years old, many of them appear almost exactly as they did when they were originally created. The survival of such ancient documents in their original form and locations is quite unusual. All of these rock edict sites are protected by Archaeological Survey of India.