The Emperor Ashoka was alive again?

     

 

 

"Shall I treat that conquest by Buddha-Dharma is the best conquests" Devanampriya Priyadarsi, Ashôka.

The story of Archeology

Cultural treasures in India have many myths, fairy tales are recounted in the works remains. In the constant HA sa of all the characters in literature are handed back, like the classic work of Ramayana, Mahabharala, Baghavad Gita as well as how legendary character, chaplain, who we know is that the characters are not real same historically done is just myth, embroidered myths woven around events in the past.

 Some of the works related to Buddhism such as the Mahavamsa (Chronicle of Ceylon), the Asokavadana, Divyavadana with tell and mentioned the King called Ashoka (also known as A Exercise in Vietnamese).

The story of Ashoka tells of a Prince at first, to kill his brother to the throne, but after this change, repent Buddhist and has wisely ruled the country in the Pacific. He also spread the Buddha-Dharma everywhere from India through neighboring countries. The story telling is the shift of Ashoka through Buddhism, after he witnessed a miracle: King Ashoka has a prison warden known for cruelty, few escape alive it's safe. One day, a monk was caught carrying on there, the warden had to report to the King because of a strange event. King Ashoka to witness. After it has been ordered, the monk dropped into boiling water for tie but strangely, the monk did not dent though was dropped on several times. From then on, King Ashoka had put a stop to evil, Buddhism and from which the Kingdom ruled and happiness everywhere. Master Xuanzang, in the western regions from China to India in 629-645, had mentioned about the prison of Ashoka (3).

In fiction, the stories are not respected and forgotten because there are so many stories and legends about Kings. The story is too good to believe life has such a King. Often many stories to be told to speak up people's hopes of an ideal ruler appears to be able to replace the authoritarian ruler's reign. The story of King Ashoka also considered as such and forgotten until the 19th century when the ancient inscription on the stone columns, statues are scattered throughout India, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, seemingly no one read, has been decoded by a scientist of the hi in archaeological history.

Mystic India

When the British arrived in the Indian peninsula in the early 17th century, the Muslim Moghul dynasty had ruled over the land Issue. Indian population at the time (and until now) mostly by Hinduism and Islam. Muslim rulers with the brilliant architecture and impressive as the Taj Mahal. Moghul dynasty created a cultural comply with Northern sugar beet fiend comes into the mix with the native Indian culture, they write down the detail event occurs. The history of the Muslim dynasties has been recorded relatively full. Yet before the reign of Moghul (about 16 centuries earlier), the historical record was mostly very flawed, obscure full array of drums, the few remaining vestiges go into oblivion. The reason is because of the destruction of the old trace, work of the Moghul dynasty when the tubers from the Northwest down to conquer India and equally important is the lack of formal record the events of the former dynasty of the smaller States throughout peninsular India. There is an incomplete listing of the Kings name in order of time from the ad before Christ, written in Sanskrit (Sanskrit) are retained by the Brahma class.

The early 19th century, a number of rich architecture and character were explored from the cave, the city has been abandoned since the present century has been covered in dense forests, such as Ajanta, Elephanta Island, Ellora, Salsette, Bagh, Karli. Especially the monuments were created from the opaque etched from a hillside, or the mountains rather than built up from bricks, stone or other materials. Such architecture a fruit in the architecture world. The temple was deserted and refuge of the forest animals including Tigers.

Lord of Valencia, the explorers discover the temples on the island of Salsette near Bombay, sure the statue of a seated figure with the devotees at the Temple around Karli "Bodth" (Bald cypress), because he had just come from Italy where Bald Cypress worship is still popular although India is no longer little known.

Yet many Western scholars argued that the monuments and architecture of ancient civilization are not derived from indigenous to India but from the outside. Or at least Indian art is due to transfer from foreign elements. They think may be due to the Greek team, Phoenecia, or Jews to settle in the West Indies from the first century Christian era. Someone said that might also be from Africa of the owner had built the pyramids. They based the theory because of the temples, ancient architecture on the grandiose, art too sharp, surprisingly, that the Indians at the time, how has the ability to do that, as far as the architecture in the city are at, although there are art but merely trivial compared with what was discovered.

They also argued that only the West Indian peninsula is the relic above. But then there's the discovery of the ruins of the Seven pagodas near Madras, the columns in Bihar (thousands of miles away from Delhi) and around Bombay, Madras and Karli with same architecture reveals the theory is wrong. Mysterious stones

In 1616, Thomas Coryat, while surveying in Delhi was abandoned (new town nearby called New Delhi), he found in Delhi between piles of ruins extends more than 10 miles, but only bats and monkeys stay in the castle ruins, a circular pillar is about 20 m high, shining in the moonlight. Column statues stand out because it is different with the crumbling architecture around it's dating seem more historic and artistic style of the column. Stand away from the idea that silver, near little more then thought, but unfortunately Sandy limestone (sandstone).

With facing the ball as marble and inscriptions resemble Greek. Coryat said that may be because Alexander the great (or the descendants of his generals) erected after an expedition through Asia.

Fifty years later, John Marshall discovered a statue of a similar stone columns in Bihar, he described is on the top of the column there is a lion-shaped carvings, very strange script, like the inscription found at the Temple of Karli and the other temple.

William Jones, wise scholar of Sanskrit (Sanskrit), the first to explore the relationship between language and seeking out the Indo-European language tree (Indo-Europeans). Jones became a succession of cultural studies Association, Indian civilization called the Asiatic Society. With the establishment of Assembly, Jones hopes the intellectuals and made light of the historic event was lost. The establishment has allowed scholars has environments to present his discovery.

Charles Wilkins explored the columns in Buddal (Bihar State). He was the first Western know Sanskrit (Sanskrit) and he cracked the code of the text slightly, this text though, other than those of modern letters in use called the Devanagari, but ties between them and the same. Today we know that literate in India undergo evolution over 4 stages: the most primitive and ancient inscriptions called Ashoka Brahmi inscriptions, slightly ornate and slightly rounded ends, Brahmi Gupa upside down and curled Kutila Brahmi font and used at present is the Devanagari

Ashoka Brahmi----> Gupta Brahmi Brahmi Kutila >---------> Devanagari

The typefaces that Wilkins the prize was that the letter that was later called Kutila, Gupta Brahmi. He presented his discovery in The Asiatic Society. But for historians, the columns in the Buddal no new information, it just comes up religious rituals.

For years, Jones and many no-one on prize columns Delhi written in ancient Ashoka Brahmi. The discovery of Mr Wilkins also go into oblivion. Only later do people new to Italy remembered when the researchers later, consisted of Prinsep, successfully decode back to what he was doing before.

Prinsep and first steps

James Prinsep arrived in India in 1819. He is studying architecture. To India to work in Benares. Build water systems and public waste. He worked for a time, then was transferred to the Department of the Royal Mint. Other than Jones, Prinsep very carefully and meticulously. He worked in the Department. Gather old coins in all over India.

Because with experience studying the ancient coins and ancient inscriptions engraved on the money, then he went to Calcutta to work with Mr. Horace Wilson, scholars the word Sanskrit (Sanskrit) and was Secretary of The Asiatic Society. Here, he began to study classical letters came on for money. He works very hard, meticulous and scientific method.

During this time they find more column objects in Allahabad, similar to columns in Delhi. On the columns, in addition to the Persian inscription in the Moghul era, there are two types of digital signatures were blurred and neck than Ashoka Brahmi and Gupta Brahmi.

The facsimile is made up from the letters written on the columns object to send researchers everywhere. Chaos of a facsimile produced by traditional methods is first smeared ink up the column, then press the paper wrapped around the column. Thanks to a facsimile sent to The Asiatic Society in 1834, Prinsep and Sanscrit scholar w. Wills Gupta Brahmi script was. This is the written word that Wilkins had been previously read and award more than 50 years. But this time the writing was indicate a lot of information about past history shows details about a King Samudragupta, son of King Chandragupta conquered 9 countries. It is initially revealed a dynasty of Indian history, later known as the Gupta dynasty (from 320 to 460 AD), with brilliant architecture in the city of Sarnath, Ajanta, Mathura and playwright famous for Sakuntala writer Kalidasha, known as the Shakespeare of India. This result as excited and motivated Prinsep continued research to read ancient inscriptions on statue.

But the word Ashoka Brahmi still nobody WINS. One scholar thought that Palaeography Ashoka Brahmi inscriptions of ancient Greece, he is believed to have read some words on a coin. But Prinsep sceptical and didn't believe because if overturned the money back then is still the unreadable text.

Prinsep wrote to the journal Asiatic Society, urged the scholars to try to solve the word ancient Ashoka Brahmi. After reading the article of Prinsep, researcher Hogson in Nepal, passing the Prinsep a facsimile of the column found near the Indian border. They wondered could this column object is a sign to mark the border or not?. After receiving the material of Hogson, Prinsep focus letters award three retrieved from inscriptions on three columns in Allahabad, Delhi and Nepal. On the three copies, some of the letters and has worn.

At first focused on separate vowel and consonant letters with the accents around it, he passed back from the failure to verify. To a time, sudden he vibe from spinal column because he discovered that all three copies are the same. We should remember that the columns have undergone nearly 2000 years, so many words were lost and some letters have been the new letter written to plant up. By using all three copies to supplement each other, Prinsep wrote back to the full article on the columns.

Although it is still unsolved, but Prinsep that this inscription on the pillar of rock and statues scattered throughout the territory of India shows that the United Kingdom and the people who make them are very important in the history of India.

In the next four years, Prinsep problem solving with adequate means. From the use of the word Gupta Brahmi to go backwards, to the way he used statistics by the frequency of letters in written words but also no. He guessed that in Ashoka Brahmi is the plain text of Sanskrit. Later found out that it is wrong, because that language in writing Ashoka Brahmi is closer to Pali, a Prakrit language family. Pali was dead, no one says anymore (similar to the Latin word neck).

Until one day, one of the letters he received from all of the many people across India to him when they find out new artifacts, is from an engineer working in Allahabad named Edward Smith. Mr. Smith is working, measure the terrain in central India. Prinsep asked Smith to the archaeological Sanchi, near the city of Bhopal to do templates facsimile of the Gupta Brahmi inscriptions on the artifacts currently translates to send for him. After the request has been finished, Mr. Smith was more cautious, he also made more of facsimile in the form of stone (stone railing) around the temple does not turn to the important artifacts are required.

Several ancient inscriptions itself, this short Brahmi rock formations on the Ashoka is the clue to the whole text on the columns and stone. Upon receipt, each row on a rock. Prinsep deductions as per the stone is due to a build and all the words are carved into Hindu names. All text on all have a last word. Prinsep inference is that there may be "danam". It must mean that gift, offering. A common word daily at the ceremony. If this is so then Prinsep found 3 consonant d, n, m and 1 vowel a. letters are very often in these languages in India.

He tried applying to the icons column on Delhi. He was amazed and delighted to read and measure the line was hit near the n's "aha" hevam raja Mishra piyadasi piya ("hurt you by the gods, the King ordered the following"). He was just wrong letter R in raja raja instead. At this June's summer in Calcutta is so hot. The majority went cool places in the summer on the plateau or elsewhere. However for Prinsep, the mind and the heart was entirely focused on the columns, he is not interested in other things. With a skilled helpers Sanskrit and other languages, within 6 weeks of continuous working in Asia Society headquarters, Prinsep had it all written inscriptions on columns. The following is a portion of what was written on the columns which Prinsep had just finished award statue column in Delhi:

"King Devanampiya Piyadesi statement as follows. In the 27th year since accession, shall I shall I have the edict to edict was announced by the written word.

Shall I accept and confess to the mistake that killed hugged forever in your heart.

In the 27th year of his reign, shall I shall I wrote out this Ordinance; King Devanampiya says: "be prepared and carved stones of this religious order up columns from here, as the Ordinance will remain until the most remote period in the future".

Prinsep presented his discovery in the Asiatic Society (Asiatic Society). People go from excitement, curiosity, wonder and admiration. But King Piyadesi? George Turnour, a researcher in the area of historical research on the Spread of Buddhism sent about Asiatic Society said that King Piyadesi also known as Ashoka, the grandson of Chandragupta i. verify more shows Ashoka the Sanskrit Indian rulers. So true Piyadesi on columns a King Ashoka!.

In 1915, a further decree on rocks were found and on which named Ashoka, and like the character confirmation Ashoka history has been checked thoroughly. After having been forgotten years, one of the great people in history to be alive again.

After WINS on 3 columns on Prinsep, is excited and continue to read the letters on the new icon column 2 to find more is in along the border to Nepal by Hogson discovery. Then add a column have fractured and buried in Delhi was discovered and brought to Calcutta, the headquarters of Asiatic Society Prinsep place to work. Thanks to the discovery of the letter written on columns and the rocks they are know more about King Ashoka.

Biography of King Ashoka

Born around the year 304 BC, was a King of the Mauryan dynasty after his father Bindusara summoned Ashoka out lost. Named Ashoka but officially Devanampiya Piyadesi (Trader Dick the gods, people look at everything with the lenient). Throne for about two years, had at least one brother of Ashoka is lost. In 262 BC, 8 years after accession, the country of Kalinga (modern Orissa state period) was conquered. The damage due to war led by King Ashoka change completely. He became a Buddhist. And in his life left has adopted the philosophy of Buddhism in the procedures and promoting the Buddha-Dharma. He helped Buddhism spread throughout the country and abroad. He died in 232 BC, after 38 years as King.

Ashoka revival

To better understand the people of King Ashoka, one of the edicts on stone and on the columns are brief republish here, lets us see clearly the status of the King. He is a Sage, a Buddha, Dhamma ideology in economy, respect the monks, not kill, animal, nature, building houses and gardens for people and animals. All other religions are respected and all learn from each other.

There are now jointly Decree on the most important column (and short order 2 in Lumbini and Allahabad) is known. Including the same Ordinance 6 on 6 columns to find and add the order in column 6 on order outside of Delhi. And 14 edicts on stone is engraved onto the rocks throughout the territory. Girna at record full of edicts on. There are also two edicts on stone only in Kalinga, and 3 a brief, short order in some parts. Two edicts in Kalinga are very lengthy, detailed and for multiple file.

Rock edict

(a) in the past, the King usually goes fun as hunting or other pastimes. But ten years after Devanampiya ("Dick Quotient for the gods") took the throne, He went to visit Sambodhi and then set up the go preach Buddha-Dharma. In the early going on, the following events are doing: visit and give gifts the austerities and recluse, visited and donated supplies gold for the elderly, visiting people in the countryside, teaching them about the Buddha-Dharma, Buddha-Dharma and discussing with people at your convenience. Which makes Him, King Piyadesi, happy and regarded it as a profit for the United Kingdom. (Girna stele, in 256 BC)

(b) Injured Dick the gods, King Piyadesi, conquered the Kalingas eight years after 150.000 people were chased away, 100.000 have been killed and many have been lost (for other reasons). After the population of Kalingas had been conquered, you of the gods has towards the Buddha-Dharma, you Buddha-Dharma and lectures. Now, shall I'm so regret conquered population of Kalingas.

Indeed, threw a pain since the killing, eviction inhabitants occurred when a country was conquered.

…

Shall I now consider that the conquest by Buddha-Dharma is the best conquest. And the conquest by the Buddha-Dharma has been achieved in the Kingdom, at the border, even away from here 600 yojanas, where the Greek King Antiochus reigned, and beyond where 4 Kings named Ptolemy, Antigonos, Magas and Alexander rule, likewise in the South among the Cholas, the Pandyas, and as far the Tamraparni.

... (Beer stone at Kalsi, in 256 BC)

(c)....

The population of the neighboring country now wonder: "the King has the intention?" The only intention of the body politic that they live no longer feared killed, and they threw the body politic news and only happiness but is no longer suffering. Shall I encourage them to apply the Buddha-Dharma to life to achieve happiness in this life and in other realms realms. Body politic to say so to the body politic to redeem debt that shall I have done and for people to know that the body politic is not going to let any more. (The beer of Kalinga, in 256 BC)

(d) Piyadesi, King Devanampiya, stating as follows: no more product donation bounty Dhamma, Dhamma without any more dear, not distributed any more distributed Dhamma, the va had no contact whatsoever over contact Dhamma. And Dhamma include that: dealing dignity with people at work and you, dear MOM and dad, generous to friends, companions, family members, clergy and renunciation, and non. As a father, son, brother, boss, friend, companion or neighbors are saying: "this is a good thing, should practice". A good article on this world and achieve great grace for the world to embrace equal bounty Dhamma. (Girna stele, in 256 BC)

(e) "Trader you of the gods", King Piyadesi, regards the monks and the tu leaders of all religions, and the King awarded them with gifts and a range of cosmetics, stripped. But "Hurt you of the gods", King Piyadesi not respected and titles by this-is to have the basic development of all religions. The development could be basically hi n in many ways, but all the way to have a former base is avoiding saying too, that is, should not praise his religion, or the defames religions without reasons. If there is any reason to criticize, they must do a gentle way. But better still is to respect other religions. To do so, then his religion to be beneficial, as well as other religions. While if do the opposite, it will bring harm to their own religion and other religions. Those who praise too much religion itself, because of a belief, and criticizing other religions with the thought is "do I honour my religion", it is the only major religion to harm themselves. As a result, the contacts between the religions is good thing. Everyone should listen to and respect the trust and good things from other religions. "Dick Quotient for the gods", King Piyadesi, wishes that everyone will learn the good things from all religions. (Girna stele, in 256 BC)

Stone in the hills of Gujerat, West Indies-Girna

The Ordinance on columns

(a) after twenty years on the throne, "Dick Quotient for the gods" (Devanampiya), King Piyadesi, had come to visit and worship place here because this place, the Buddha, Sage of the Sakyans tribe, was born. King has made a statue of stone and stone columns erected. And because Buddha was born in Lumbini village, are tax and pay only 1/8 output. (Columns in Lumbini, where Buddha was born, as in 249 BC)

(b) Injured Dick the gods, King of Piyadesi, says that along the way, the body politic to have planted the trees so they could roll the shade for animals and people, and killed also planted the garden of mango. In this way, the gap//krosas//8, shall I have wells and built the houses, and in many places, the body politic has ordered the station to water for animals and people. But these are just minor results. What do the people of happiness was the King before doing. I also did the same for the purpose is, people have the opportunity to apply the Buddha-Dharma to daily life. (Columns of Delhi, made in 243 B. C.)

(c) Injured Dick the gods, King Piyadesi has said the following: twenty-six years after he ascended the throne, he ordered many kinds of animals are protected-species, wild duck, geese,//aruna//,//nadimukhas, gelatas//, bats, fish, boneless, turtles, squirrels, deer, cows ... pigeons and all species of four-legged animals are not helpful or not edible ... Where to stay the creatures do not burn and the forest was not burn not to reason or to kill animals. (Columns of Delhi, made in 243 B. C.)

(Note: the name or words between the 2 markers//are the ones from the current stock has not understood the meaning)

Columns in Delhi (photos Ramesh Lalwani-Flickr)

Brahmi inscriptions carved on the pillar in Lumbini

Ashoka and legacy

Ashoka is an exemplary ruler in the history of the world. In his Kingdom, all people are treated with dignity, the creatures are protected, no kill counting the tiny animals. He has blessed the Act applied the teachings of the Buddha throughout the huge Empire from West to East, from North to South. The expletives in his decree shows clearly the person of the King. Much is known about him than the other Kings in Indian history.

"Amidst the tens of thousands of names of monarchs that crowd the columns of historỵ ... the name of Asoka shines, and shines almost alone, a star" (h. g. Wells, English historian, author of the book "History of the World")

"In the middle of the tens of thousands of names of the Kings of the dynasty, crowded on the columns in the page history. The name of Ashoka illuminates illuminating, and almost alone, a star "

Although water is now under Hinduism and Islam but on the national flag of India is the reincarnation wheel (dhammachakra) near the lion statues on columns which Emperor Ashoka erected more than 2000 years ago. The Indians have been very hảnh with the famous and exemplary ruler. He has left a precious legacy to humanity.

He sent the renunciation Buddhism Buddhist thought transmissions go off the water. Thanks to him that was longer and grow through Ceylon, Burma, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cam, China, Korean, Japan, his legacy is huge. He also sent the priest to Northern countries and across the West and affect some Sage in Greece but was not long-lasting root in places. According to Lê Manh Thát (4) then the monks could be the Luminous transmission of Buddhism first in Vietnam by King Ashoka sent through the water around it. The word Pupil and First (the Hung Kings, c. 3rd century BC) is not the two characters in the myth that the two first Buddhists in Vietnam after the French appetites from monks. Lyrics Link

Sau when read and the inscription on the pillar, Prinsep continued to read the new discoveries such as on rocks found at Dhauli, State of Orissa near Calcutta, some words and lines written were worn and lost, but he also read on this stone mentioned about the King in the middle of Mediterranean coast as AntiochusPtolemy had known King Ashoka (see translation of headstones in the Kalsi piece on).

This is an important detail to know King Ashoka contemporary with Ptolemy in Egypt that the historical record be put more fully. He is very excited and trying to find and recreate the text was lost. Not long after that, add a large stone containing ancient Ashoka Brahmi in Girna, near Gujerat known Prinsep, again paying attention to read and recognize two in stone Dhauli and Girna is the same though we separated thousands of stamp, one in the West and one in the East. At this time, the reputation of Prinsep was growing throughout India, he urgently asked the Government for people to Gugerat to search and do a facsimile. The Government has sent emergency and kindly people to Girna for more information.

But when a facsimile to the Asia Society headquarters, Prinsep was on board a day before returning to Britain for treatment. He has the mental strength and weakness were decadent after years of passionate dedication to tremendous discoveries in history. The following year, he went to madness and died in England.

In downtown Calcutta, along the banks of the Ganges (Ganges), near the headquarters of The Asiatic Society, there is a statue that tourists can come, if ignored. It is the statue of the scientist James Prinsep that Indian Nations have erected in memory of the great discoveries of archaeology. In the book of travel guide to India's Lonely Planet publish now, mentioned this place. If given the opportunity, you should visit this place.

Ca dao Viet nam often said:

Five hundred headstones are worn

Thousand years of beer mouth still inert inert

mean deep bricks of everyday products, the reputation of the man who was standing holding through folk, more durable stone. However, King Ashoka is in case the hi hữu, with "his" Rocky beer though for over hundreds of years, has worn many, but fortunately his reputation was resurrected and from there (19th century) so far has been life left in the mouth "beer" of humanity. It is also thanks to the knowledge and the dedication of an archaeological scientist specifically. END=VIETNAMESE TRANSLATE ENGLISH BY=THICH CHAN TANH.THE MIND OF ENLIGHTMENT.WORLD VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST ORDER=VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN =GOLDEN LOTUS MONASTERY=AUSTRALIA,SYDNEY.26/3/2014.NAM MO SAKYAMUNI BUDDHA.( 3 TIMES ).