Explore Ancient India

  Author - Biswarup Chatterjee.           Aśoka's governance, deeply rooted in the principles of Dharma, emphasized the welfare and happiness of all beings, including those beyond his empire's borders. He regarded all men as his children and made minimal distinction between humans and animals in his policies. His efforts extended to providing medical care for both humans and animals, ensuring the availability of medicinal herbs, roots, and fruits across his empire and in neighboring regions, particularly to the west and south.  “rājāno sarvarta (tra) devānaṃrpi(pri)yasa rpi(pri)yadasino rājo dve cikicch[ā*]katā manusa - cikichā ca pasu - cikichā ca [ī*] asudani [I*] yāni manusopagāni ca [I*]...... mūlaāni ca phalāni ca yata yata nāsti sarvata hārāpitani ca ropāpitāni ca [I*] pamthesū kūpā ca khānāpitā rva(bra)cchā ca ropita[ī] paribhogaya pasu-manusānaṃ [II*] (2nd Rock Edict ).          Aśoka undertook several public welfare ...

Author - Biswarup Chatterjee.                          Down the ages, many great men came to the Indian soil. Generations of people remember them for their social, political and religious contributions. To us, they act as the Pole-Star who provides us with strength, inspiration, direction, at the hour of crises. Indeed, Lord Buddha was one of such pole stars whose life and messages had been instrumental behind the foundation, growth and progress of human civilization. But, it is a truism that people of the later generations could know hardly about the preachings of Buddha in the absence of king Aśoka, the third king of the Mauryan Empire. At one level, coming at close proximity with Lord Buddha, a metamorphosis took place in the mind of Asoka so much so that he gave up the course of violence forever. At another leave!, Aśoka erected lots of pillars, though only nineteen are survive to let the world know the valuab...