CSIP: PRELIMS BOOSTER SERIES-428 ART AND CULTURE
ASHOKA’S MAJOR PILLAR EDICTS
WHY IN NEWS?
Times of India: Ashoka’s edicts inadequately maintained.
LANGUAGE OF INSCRIPTIONS
Only one language was used on the pillars: Prakrit in the Brahmi script.
A few derived inscriptions were made on rock in Aramaic, in areas of Afghanistan.
MAJOR PILLAR EDICTS
| BIHAR | LAURIYA NANDANGARH |  Capital: Lion
Abacus : Brahmi geese
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The city is located on the banks of Burhi Gandak in West Champaran.
There is also a Lauriya Nandangarh stupa. The top of the pillar is bell shaped with a circular abacus ornamented with Brahmi geese supporting the statue of a lion |
| LAURIYA ARARAJ |  |
It is located at a distance of 55 km to the southeast of the other Ashoka pillar at Lauriya Nandangarh.
The pillar capital is missing, but the pillar bear six Edicts of Ashoka |
|
| RAMAPURVA (WEST CHAMPARAN DISTRICT ) | 
CAPITAL: BULL ABACUS: FLORAL MOTIFS
CAPITAL: LION ABACUS: Brahmi Geese(probably) |
2 pillars were discovered here.
The one with the lion capital was inscribed with edicts, while the one with bull capital was not inscribed. The lion capital is now in the Indian Museum in Kolkota, while the bull capital is located at the center of the porch of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. |
|
| UTTARPRADESH | ALLAHABAD |  Capital and lotus base missing
Abacus with floral motifs found
|
The pillar was originally located in Kosambi and later moved to Allahabad.
Ever since Allahabad fort has been converted a military base of Indian Army the access is limited Contains several inscriptions from different Indian kings 1.Ashokan edicts + Schism edict(propagating unity) 2.Queen’s edict: Refers to the charitable deeds of Queen Karuvaki 3.Prayag Prashasti written by Harisena in Sanskrit praising Samudragupta’s achievements 4.Jahagir’s Inscription: Tracing his ancestory in Persian (nastaliq script) |
| DELHI | DELHI TOPARA(HARYANA) |  |
Was originally in Topara, Haryana. Later moved to Delhi by Firuz Shah Tughlaq
Located inside Firuz Shah Kotla. Only pillar that contains edict 7. Also contains inscription from 12th century AD, by Visala Deva Vigraharaja IV of the Chauhan dynasty. |
| DELHI MEERUT(UTTARPRADESH) |  |
Formerly located in meerut. Later moved to Delhi by Firuz Shah Tughlaq.
Now located on Delhi ridge |
