The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great c23.19

c23.19

Asoka openly avowed his readiness to act upon these latitudinarian principles by doing reverence to men of all sects, whether ascetics or householders, by means of donations and in other ways. The Cave Inscriptions, which record costly gifts bestowed upon the Ājīvikas, an independent sect of self-mortifying ascetics, testify that Asoka, like many other ancient kings of India, really adopted the policy of universal toleration and concurrent endowment.¹