Public Administration in Ancient India c22.6

c22.6

After Asoka’s conversion to Buddhism, it became a sort of state religion in Northern India, and that great monarch assumed a position not very far removed from the headship of the Buddhist Church. He settled disputes between members of the various orders, and even arrogated to himself to look after their private concerns. In the Kosambī Edict, Asoka instructs his high officers in these words: “The way of the church must not be quitted. Whosoever shall break the unity of the Church, whether monk or nun, from this time forth shall be compelled to wear white garments and to dwell in a place not reserved for the clergy.”[¹] He made Dharma a special department of the State, and appointed officials called Dharma-mahāmātras and Dharma-yutas to have charge of that department.¹ In Rock Edict V. Asoka says: "Now in all the long time past, officers known as the Censors of the Law of Piety never had existed, whereas such Censors were created by me when I had been consecrated thirteen years." He convoked religious assemblies from time to time, and one of the Great Buddhist Councils is believed to have been held during his reign. His officers of religion paid constant visits to different parts of the country to instruct the people in 'dharma,'² and he himself undertook tours of piety (dharma) wherein were practised "the visiting of ascetics and Brāhmanas, with liberality to them, the visiting of Elders, with largess of gold, the visiting of the people of the country, with instruction in the Law of Piety and discussion of the Law of Piety."³ Asoka, however, did not rest content with instructing his own people in 'dharma,' but adopted measures for the preaching of Buddhism in foreign countries. In Asoka's opinion, the chief conquest was the conquest by the Law of Piety, and this was won by him not only among such settlers within his own dominions as the Yonas and the Kambojas, among the Nābhāpamtis of Nābhaka, among the Bhojas and Pitinikas, among the Āndhras and Pulindas, but also in the realms of the Cholas and Pāndyas, in Ceylon, and even in such distant countries as Egypt, Cyrene, Macedonia, Epirus, and Syria.¹