Ancient History of the Deccan c3.s1: § 1. Aśoka
Ancient History of the Deccan c3.s1
- Language
- English
§ 1. Aśoka
c3.s1.1
One of the well-known events in the history of Aśoka is the conquest of Kalinga which probably took place about 261 B. C. and it is not astonishing to find an inscription of Aśoka at Dhauli. This town situated in the delta of the Mahânadî is in all probability the ancient Tosalî, capital of the kingdom of Kalinga; for, according to Mr. Haraprashad Sastri, Tosalî is etymologically identical with Dhauli. It is not more astonishing that there is another inscription at Jaugada (Ganjam District, Madras Presidency), as this place certainly formed part of the kingdom of Kalinga (concerning the Kalinga edicts, see Ind. Ant., Vol V, pp. 82-102; see also Arch. Surv. Southern India, Amarâvati, by Burgess, pp. 114-25).
c3.s1.2
The discovery of an inscription at Sopârâ (Thânâ District, Bombay Presidency) near Bombay, has proved that the north-west of the Deccan as well as the north-east where Kalinga is situated has been under the domination of Aśoka. But the discovery, in 1892, of the inscriptions of Aśoka near Siddâpura, in Mysore, which have immortalised the name of Mr. Rice, has caused very great surprise. They did not, in fact, think that the empire of Aśoka extended up to the southernmost part of the Deccan. One very important point in the history of India was thus well established. So, the discovery, (see Hydera-bad Archæological Series No 1) only a few years ago, of an inscription at Maski (Hyderabad) has caused no surprise.
c3.s1.3
The Siddâpura edicts (see inscriptions in Mysore, see also Ind. Ant., Vol. XI, pp. 34, and M. E. C. 1892, and inscriptions from Mysore by Mr. Rice, pp. 11, 1003, 1004, 1005 and 1008) present certain peculiarities which have been pointed out by Bühler and especially the particular form of "am" with the usually large upper lines (which appear in the inscriptions of the 3rd century B. C.). These details are very important. There is indeed no reason to believe that the edicts were engraved by the people of those countries where the edicts were published, understood very little of these inscriptions that were written in Magadhi and Prakrit. We may also suppose that it is the people of Magadha who engraved them.
c3.s1.4
inscription at Mâski (Lingusugur Taluq, Raichur District) in the State of Hyderabad has caused no surprise.
c3.s1.5
The Siddâpura edicts (near Brahmagiri, in Molakâlmuru taluk; see Ep. Carn. Vol. XI, MK, 21, 14, 34, and Mysore and Coorg from inscriptions by Mr. Rice, page 11; see also Fleet, J. R. A. S., for 1903, page 829 and J. R. A. S., for 1904, pages 1 and 355) present certain peculiarities which have been pointed out by Bühler and especially "the particular uncouth form of "ma" with its abnormally large upper limbs" (which re-occurs in the inscriptions on the crystal prism from the Bhaṭṭiprôlu stûpa, Ep. Ind. Vol. III. page 135). These details are very important. One is indeed led to believe that the edicts were engraved by the emissaries of Aśôka who came from the north, but that the people of those distant countries, where the edicts were published, understood very little of those inscriptions that were written in a language and an alphabet almost unknown to them. We may also suppose that at the time of Aśôka the people of Mysore were almost savages. On the contrary, the Siddâpura inscriptions prove that South India had a special alphabet which Bühler has called "Drâviḍi" and that the art of writing was known many centuries before Aśôka, for, in the III century B.C. the alphabet of the South has had time to vary from that of the North. Besides, the special alphabet used in the Siddâpura inscriptions proves that the edicts of Aśôka were engraved by some Southerners who must therefore have understood the language of Aśôka and attained as high a degree of civilisation as the northerners.
c3.s1.6
It is almost certain that Aśôka led only one expedition, that to Kaliṅga. But how did the rest of the Deccan come under his domination? It is to be supposed that, at the accession of Aśôka, the whole of the Deccan except Kaliṅga was already in the possession of the Mauryas. There are also, in Mysore, certain legends about the Mauryan king Chandragupta (see "Mysore and Coorg from inscriptions" by Mr. Rice). We may also suppose that the rest of the Deccan quietly submitted on hearing of the conquest of Kaliṅga. Be it as it may, it is certain that the whole of the Deccan was under the suzerainty of Aśôka and that, consequently, the political unity of India was a *fait accompli*, twenty-two centuries ago.