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Asokan Message : Towards mutual understanding of Religious Communities
Generally speaking religious tolerance in India has been rooted in its soil. And that is the reason why India has been and is a hospitable land for all religions. Ashoka expressed the virtue of mutual understanding and religious co-existence pointedly in his edicts. The Emperor, who had experienced the horrors of war born of mutual hatred, in his rock-edicts says that the real conquest is the con quest by righteousness ( ). By righteousness is meant the right mental attitude which includes also the understanding of others' viewpoint. In one of his edicts Asoka expresses his desire that men of different religious denominations should live together (Tom THE ) and cultivate what he calls the essence (FR) of all religions--the purification of mind (prafa) and self-control (HTF). He further suggests that there should be mutual honouring of all religions. One should not revere one's own religion only. Asoka says that not only should one not indulge in disparagement of other sects but one should hearken to others' view-points also. He believed that concord ( TTT) was the basis of all religions and people should willingly hear each other's doctrine (977).
-N. H. Samtani
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