Question

Ashoka’s rock edicts have been found at_______in the Chitradurga district of Karnataka.
A.Brahmagiri
B.Devagiri
C.Nilgiri
D.All of the above

Answer 1

Hint: Ashokan edicts were inscribed either on the pillars of stone or on rocks. They consist of Major and Minor groups. Ashoka was the first ruler to issue edicts. These inscriptions were found all over India.

Complete answer: In Chitradurga district of Karnataka rock edicts were in Brahmagiri language. These inscriptions are found in the eastern part of India where it is written in Magadhi language, using Brahmi script. In the western part of India the language used is closer to Sanskrit, using the Kharosthi script. One extract of Edicts 13 in the greek language and one bilingual edict written in greek and Aramic. Ashoka made two types of rock edicts. Major rock edicts and Minor rock edicts. Major rock edicts are a set of fourteen inscriptions found at 8 places such as Dhauli, Girnar, Jauguda, Kalsi, Mansehra, Shahbazgarhi, Sopara and Yerragudi. The Major rock edicts also include two separate edicts found at Kalinga. They deal with administration and ethics. The minor rock edicts are spread on 13 places. The places are Bairat, Brahmagiri, Gavimath, Gujarra, Jatinga-Rameshwar, Maski, Palkigunda, Madagiri, Rupanath, Sasaram, Siddhapur, Suvarnagiri and Yerragudi.

So the correct answer is option (A) Brahmagiri.

Additional Information: There are some other very popular edicts made by Ashoka such as Queen’s edicts, kandahar edicts, bhabru edicts. These edicts were decoded by british archaeologist and historian James princep.

Note:Ashoka was the first ruler to introduce edicts. In these edicts he structured all his greatness and principles made by him at that time. There were a total of 14 edicts made by him and there are total 7 major edicts made by Ashoka.