Which one of the following Ashokan Minor Rock Edicts contains the personal name of the king - Ashoka ?
- A.Maski
- B.Bahapur
- C.Bairat
- D.Sahasram
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is A, Maski. The Maski minor rock edict in Raichur district, Karnataka, calls the king Devanampiya Asoka, and it was the first inscription found to name him as Ashoka.
Most of Ashoka's inscriptions do not use his personal name; they call him Devanampiya Piyadasi, the beloved of the gods who looks kindly on all. For a long time scholars knew the edicts and knew the Ashoka of the Buddhist chronicles, but could not be fully sure they were the same king. The Maski edict, found by C. Beadon in 1915, settled this by naming him directly. Later finds at Gujarra in Madhya Pradesh and at Nittur and Udegolam in Karnataka also carry the name.
B is wrong because the minor rock edict at Bahapur in Delhi does not give the personal name. C is wrong because the Bairat edict near Jaipur, Rajasthan, which names Buddhist texts, also uses only his title. D is wrong because the Sahasram edict in Bihar uses the title, not the name Ashoka.
Exam tip: Maski (1915) first named Ashoka; James Prinsep deciphered the Brahmi script in 1837.
Practice Questions
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