Edicts of Ashoka Essay

The Edicts of Ashoka are a group of publications on the pillars of Ashoka, as well as boulders and cave walls, made by the Emperor Ashoka These writings are spread throughout the areas of modern-day Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan and constitute the head start concrete evidence of Buddhism. The edicts describe in detail the first wide expansion of Buddhism through the support of one of the most justly kings of Indian history.According to the edicts, the extent of Buddhist teachings during this period reached as off the beaten track(predicate) as the Mediterranean, and many Buddhist monuments were created. These writings state Ashokas beliefs in the Buddhist concept of dharma and his efforts to develop the dharma throughout his kingdom. Although Buddhism and the Buddha are mentioned, the edicts focus on neighborly and moral teachings, rather than specific religious practices or the philosophic aspect of Buddhism.The writings revolve around a few go on themes Ashokas conv ersion to Buddhism, the description of his efforts to spread Buddhism, his moral and religious precepts, and his social and animal benefit program. The Mauryan empire was the first Indian empire to blend the country and it had a clear-cut policy of exploiting as well as protecting natural resources with officials tasked with protection duty. When Ashoka embraced Buddhism in the latter part of his reign, he brought about significant changes in his style of authority, which included providing protection to wildlife, and nonetheless relinquished the royal hunt.He was possibly the first ruler in history to support preservation of wildlife. Ashoka did not completely prohibit the cleanup position of animals he prohibited killings for sacrifices, he advocated restraint in the number that had to be killed for consumption, protected some of them, and in general condemned violent acts against animals, such as castration. However, the edicts of Ashoka reflect more than the desire of Ashok a than what actually happened the mention of a snow coins fine for poaching deer in royal hunting keep shows that rule-breakers did exist.The legal restrictions clashed with the practices then freely exercised by the common people in hunting, felling, fishing and setting fires in forests. According to the edicts, Ashoka took great care of the welfare of his subjects, and those beyond his borders, spreading the use of medicinal treatments, improving roadside facilities for more comfortable travel, and establishing officers of the faith throughout his territories to survey the welfare of the population and the circulation of the Dharma.