From a Kingdom to an Empire — Social Science STD 6 — Question
Rajasthan BoardEnglish MediumSTD 6Social ScienceFrom a Kingdom to an Empire5 Marks
Question
What was Ashoka’s Dhamma? What did he do in this field?
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Answer
Ashoka’s Dhamma:
Dhamma is the Prakrit word for Sanskrit term Dharma. Ashoka’s dhamma did not involve worship of a god, or performance of a sacrifice.
Ashoka felt that like a father, he had a duty to instruct his subject. He was greatly inspired by the teachings of the Buddha.
There were numerous problems that troubled emperor Ashoka. People in the empire followed different religions and this sometimes led to conflict. Animals were sacrificed. Slaves and servants were ill-treated. Besides, there were quarrels in families and amongst neighbours. Ashoka felt it was his duty to solve these problems, so, he appointed officials, known as the Dhamma Mahamatta who went from place to place teaching people about dhamma. Besides Ashoka got his messages inscribed on rocks and pillars, instructing his officials to read the message to those who could not read it themselves.
He asked his people to give up useless rituals. He advised his subjects to be gentle with slaves and servants. He asked them to respect their elders.
Ashoka asked his people to treat all creatures with compassion. They should give gifts to brahmins and monks.
Ashoka asked that it was wrong to praise one’s own religion or criticize another’s. Each one should respect the other’s religion. According to Ashoka if one praises one’s own religion while criticising another’s, one was actually doing greater harm to one’s own religion. Therefore, one should try to understand the main ideas of another’s religion and respect it.
Ashoka sent messengers to spread ideas about dhamma to other lands, such as Syria, Egypt, Greece and Sri Lanka.
Ashoka built roads, planted trees along these roads, dug wells and built rest houses. Besides he arranged for medical treatment for both the human beings and the animals.
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