ASHOKA'S DHAMMA

DHAMMA

Dhamma is a key concept with multiple meanings in Indian religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and others. The Dharma preached by Ashoka is explained mainly in term of moral precepts, based on the doing of good deeds, respect for others, generosity and purity. Dharma is good, but what constitutes Dharma? It includes little evil, much good, kindness, generosity, truthfulness and purity. Pilar Edict Nb2 (S. Dharmika). And noble deeds of Dharma and the practice of Dharma consist of having kindness, generosity, truthfulness, purity, gentleness and goodness increase among the people. Rock Pilar Nb7 (S. Dharmika).

Ashoka's Dharma meant that he used his power to try to make life better for his people and he also tried to change the way people thought and lived. He also thought that dharma meant doing the right thing. It is my desire that there should be uniformity in law and uniformity in sentencing. I even go this far, to grant a three-day stay for those in prison who have been tried and sentenced to death. During this time their relatives can make appeals to have the prisoners' lives spared. If there is none to appeal on their behalf, the prisoners can give gifts in order to make merit for the next world, or observe fasts. Pillar Edict Nb4 (S. Dhammika).

The Mauryan empire was the first Indian empire to unify the country and it had a clear-cut policy of exploiting as well as protecting natural resources with specific officials tasked with protection duty. He was perhaps the first ruler in history to advocate conservation measures for wildlife. Reference to these can be seen inscribed on the stone edicts.

Fall of Ashoka the Great

His appointment of Dharma-Mahamatras or the Superintendents of Morals also gave a blow to the supremacy of the Brahmins in religious matters and affected their hereditary rights. Similarly, Asoka’s principle of equality of all men before law and justice made the Brahmins angry. By his Vyavahara-Samata, Asoka wanted to regard all his subjects equal in Law. And, by his Danda-Samata he wanted ‘equality of punishment’ irrespective of caste and creed. Since the Brahmins enjoyed certain privileges in earlier times both in law and punishment, Asoka’s new regulations annoyed them greatly. But this thesis has been rejected by many historians as historically unsound. Asoka’s regulation against animal sacrifice was in the true line of Upanishadic philosophy of the Hindus. Asoka’s respect for the Brahmins as a class was deep-rooted.

Regarding Asoka’s pacifist policy, it is said that Asoka abandoned the royal tradition of fighting wars after his Kalinga War. By his pacifism, he silenced the war-drum or the Bheri-ghosha and practised the Call of Peace or Dharmaghosha. He even asked his successors to abstain from new conquests by bloody battles. As a result of this, it is said, the Maurya army and its generals lost their martial vigour and their desire for aggression. This weakened the army and prepared the path for the downfall of an extensive empire which chiefly rested on its military power. But he never meant to give up might in the larger interest of his people. He wanted all states to live in peace, instead of fighting wars. But it did not mean that any state would go down in internal turmoil.

Romila Thapar stated that the Ashokan Administration was highly centralised.


Back to home