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ADMINISTRATION OF KALINGA
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officials were expected to return to the district headquarters by turn on the uposatha (fast) days, as may be inferred from the Sarnath Edict. But they had all to be present at the headquarters (probably provincial) on the day of the Tishya Nakshatra——that is, on the King's birthday, as can be inferred from the Separate Kalinga Edicts.
The anusamyāna (tour)? consisting in quinquennial and teriennial tours of inspection on the part of the Rājukas and the Prādesikas (RE III) or on that of the Rājavachanika-mahāmātras (SKE I) was the method of official supervision introduced by Aśoka for the following purposes :(a) To collect a first-hand information about the actual
condition of the people. (b) To bring comfort and happiness to town and
country folks, and to do thein favour by initiating
various works of public utility." (c) To educate people in the laws and ideals of piety
(RE III and PE IV), and (d) To pievent the miscarriage of justice and breaches
of duty (RE IV, SKE I), in addition to their usual administrative duties (ahāpayitu atane kammam
SKE 1).
In introducing these tours, Aśoka's intention obviously was to fully utilize the adhimāsa (additional month) which
1. Bhandarkar, Asoka, pp. 67-68. 2. Dr. Mookerji (Asoka, p. 125, fn. 3) says—"It may be noted
that Kautilya (II, 9) provides for the transfer of goverment servants (Yuktas) from one post to another in order to prevent embazzlement (viparyasyāt ch karmsu). He also uses the word niryāņa for anusarnyāna for the King's tour
(srth., I. 21)." 3. Original: ---"Sukhiyan, dukhiyana Jionieuw -PEIV.
4. Original :-"Janasa janapadasa hitasukhari upadahevu anugahi. nevu cha.”
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