Early History of Orissa

SR No.: 006922
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Amarchand Mittal
Publisher: Jain Cultural Research Society
Publication Year: 1957
Total Pages: 506
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 9 MB

Page 192

ADMINISTRATION OF KALINGA
167
engraved on the face of a picturesque rock in a large old fort called Jaugada (Lit: Lac Fort) on the Risikulya river, about 18 miles to the west-north-west of the town of Ganjam in the district of the same name.
But all the fourteen Rock Edicts are not found published in Kalinga as at other places, viz., Kalsi in Dehra Dun (U. P.), Mansera in Hazara (N. W. F. P. in Pakistan now), Shahbazgarhi in Peshawar (Pakistan), Girnar in Kathiawar, Sopara in Taana (Bombay), and Yerragudi in Kurnool (Madras). The Rock Edicts XI, XII and XIII have been omitted in Kalinga and in their place were added two Edicts special to this country.
The reason why Edicts XI, XII and XIII have been excluded from the Dhauli and the Jaugada sets, is probably to be found in the statement in Rock Edict XIV, which states~"This set of Edict of the Law of Piety has been written in a form some:ines condensed, sometimes of medium length and someti nes expanded", because of :1. The impossibility of their promulgation all over
the empire on account of its vastness ; 2. Repetition of the same thing over and over again
justifiable only on grounds of sweetness of its
meaning; and 3. Incompleteness of the records to be accounted for
either by the comprehension of local circumstances or by the consideration of other reason, or by the fault of the scribes Lipikārus).
1. Rock Edicts III and IV refer to Asoka's 12th regnal year, Rock Edict V refers to the 1 th regnal year, Rock Edict VIII to the 10th regnal year and Rock Edice XIII to the 8th regnal year. According to Pillar Edict VI, Asoka began to issue rescript on Dhamma in his 12th regnal year, that is to say in 257 B. C.