SSC
Ashoka's visit to Bodh Gaya (the Bodhi tree) and his practice of 'Dhamma-yatras' (tours to spread Dhamma) are mentioned in which edict?
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Answer: Option B — Major Rock Edict VIII
Detailed Solution
Ashoka's Major Rock Edict VIII describes his visit to "Sambodhi" (Bodh Gaya) and his introduction of "Dhamma-yatras".
What Major Rock Edict VIII says:
- It says that earlier kings went on "vihara-yatras" (pleasure tours), which involved hunting and other amusements.
- Ashoka, ten years after his coronation, visited "Sambodhi", the place of the Buddha's enlightenment (Bodh Gaya).
From then on, he went on "Dhamma-yatras" (tours for Dhamma), during which he met Brahmanas and shramanas (ascetics) and gave them gifts, visited the elderly and gave them gold, met people of the countryside, taught them Dhamma and discussed Dhamma with them.
He said that these tours gave him great pleasure.
Ashoka's edicts:
His inscriptions are of different types:
- Major Rock Edicts: carved on large rocks, at places such as Girnar, Kalsi, Shahbazgarhi, Mansehra, Dhauli, Jaugada and Sopara.
- Minor Rock Edicts: such as those at Maski, Brahmagiri and Bairat.
- Pillar Edicts: on stone pillars, such as those at Delhi-Topra, Lauriya Araraj and Rampurva.
- Other inscriptions: such as the Queen's Edict and the Barabar cave inscriptions.
Some important Major Rock Edicts:
- Major Rock Edict I: prohibition of animal sacrifice and festive gatherings.
- Major Rock Edict II: medical treatment for humans and animals, and wells and trees along roads.
- Major Rock Edict XII: tolerance and respect for all religious sects.
- Major Rock Edict XIII: the Kalinga war and Ashoka's remorse.
- Pillar Edict VII: a summary of Ashoka's work for Dhamma.
About Bodh Gaya:
Ashoka is believed to have built a shrine (the first Mahabodhi temple) at Bodh Gaya, and a stone "Vajrasana" (diamond throne) marking the place where the Buddha sat.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Major Rock Edict XII deals with religious tolerance.
- ✗Pillar Edict VII is a summary of his Dhamma work.
- ✗Minor Rock Edict I describes his becoming a Buddhist lay follower.
Quick tip
Remember: Major Rock Edict VIII = visit to Sambodhi (Bodh Gaya) and Dhamma-yatras instead of vihara-yatras; MRE XII = tolerance; MRE XIII = Kalinga war.
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Mahajanapadas & Mauryan Empire — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Mahajanapadas & Mauryan Empire, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers the sixteen Mahajanapadas, the rise of Magadha under the Haryanka, Shishunaga and Nanda dynasties, Alexander's invasion, and the Mauryan Empire under Chandragupta Maurya, Bindusara and Ashoka, including Mauryan administration, Ashoka's dhamma and his edicts. Questions often ask about the capital of a Mahajanapada, the founder of a dynasty, or details of Ashoka's rule, such as the Kalinga war and his rock and pillar edicts. Key sources include Kautilya's Arthashastra and Megasthenes' Indica. James Prinsep first deciphered Ashoka's Brahmi inscriptions in 1837. Practise the Mahajanapadas and Mauryan Empire questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.