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| The Allahabad Ashoka's pillar. en.wikipedia.org/ |
The Allahabad pillar is an Ashoka Stambha, one of the pillars built by Emperor Ashoka of the Maurya dynasty who reigned in the 3rd century BCE. He was one of the greatest rulers of all time in the ancient period and is known to have become a well-known follower and exponent of Buddhism. This change of perception of life had happened after his decisive victory in the Kalinga War (parts of Ddisha) that resulted in destruction, desolation and death of thousands of innocent people including women and children. The question dawned on him was: Does this victory I 've got on the altar of death and bloodbath give me any satisfaction? Now my overwhelming ego has driven me to the edge of exasperation.
Discontentment was writ all over on him and after giving up his self pride, ego and pursuit of material happiness he became a staunch Buddhist, and started spending rest of life in the propagation of the religious belief of Buddha and, in the process, he established many pillars that carry his edicts. The Ashoka Pillar at Allahabad in c. 1870 possibly sporting the lion capital fashioned by Captain Edward Smith in 1838 is an interesting one.
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| The pillar circa 1900.en.wikipedia.org/ |
There are inscriptions attributed to the Gupta emperor, Samudragupta (4th century CE) and also inscriptions engraved by the Mogul emperor, Jahangir, from the 17th century. It is said that during the Mogul rule, the pillar was shifted from its original location and installed within Akbar's Allahabad Fort in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh.
The Allahabad Pillar that is 35 feet (10.7 m) tall has a single shaft of polished sandstone (10.7 m). It has a lower diameter of 35 inches (0.9 m) and an upper diameter of 26 inches (0.7 m). Here the loti form bell-shaped capital, a common feature in many Ashoka Pillars, is missing because of the statue mounted over it. However, the abacus, adorned by a "graceful scroll of alternate lotus and honeysuckle", that the statue must have rested upon, was found nearby. According to historian Cunningham that the capital must have been mounted by a single lion. That the abacus is similar to the one found on the pillar at Sankasya suggests proximate erection dates.
The pillar circa 1900.
From Ashokan inscriptions we learn that the pillar came up for the first time at Kaushambi, an ancient town some 30 km west of its current location. It was then the capital of the kingdom of Koshala. From here the pillar was shifted to to Allahabad much later when the region came under Muslim rule. Evidences point out that the Allahabad pillar was not a single one and must have been one of a pair as confirmed by the presence of remnants of broken pillar are found at Kaushambi near the ruins of the Ghoshitarama monastery.
Since the 13th century, the pillar had been shifted to many places during the Mogul reign as most of them were against idolatry. Jahangir in 1605, however, re-erected the pillar that was crowned by a globe surmounted by a cone. Later, it was sketched by the Jesuit missionary, one Joseph Tiefenthaler, in the mid-18th century. In 1838, Captain Edward Smith "of the Engineers" took keen interest in the old pillar and erected the pillar once again, this time with a new lion capital of his own design.
There are three sets of inscriptions on the column from the three emperors, Ashoka Maurya, Samudragupta, and Jahangir.
Inscriptions
According to studies by Cunningham and James Prinsep of the Asiatic Society, as for the broken pillar just inside the gates of the Allahabad Fort c1834 in the absence of clear inscriptions that became faded through time the Allahabad Pillar was very likely erected from the time of Samudragupta until the mid-13th century CE. The conclusion was based on the style of scripts used in different periods.
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| Horse motif on the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka ,en.wikipedia.org/ |
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| Ashoka pillar, Allahabad.upload.wikimedia.org |
Above image: Abacus of the Allahabad pillar, with lotuses alternating with "flame palmettes" over a bead and reel
Brahmi inscriptions by Ashoka give information on the extent of the empire urging that period. Emperor Jahangir inscribed their ancestor's name and deliberately removed the third and fourth edicts (out of six edicts) of Ashoka inscribed in Brahmi script. The other scripts found on the Ashoka's pillar are the Schism edict and the Queen's edict. The former refers to the Kaushambi edict by Cunningham, which is a command from the emperor addressing the senior officials (Mahamatras) of Kaushambi, emphasizing the need to avoid dissension and stay united, whereas the latter refers to the charitable deeds of Ashoka's queen, Karuvaki, the mother of Prince Tivala. the 4th century Samudra Gupta's inscription in Sanskrit is a very useful example of the classical Gupta period. The Jahangir inscriptions overwrite much of Ashoka's inscriptions. It records Akbar's courtier Birbal visit in c.1575 to Sangam, the confluence of the three rivers, Ganga, Jamuna and Saraswati near Allhabad fort.
The Ashokan inscriptions on the Allahabad Pillar (along with inscriptions elsewhere) were essential to the pivotal to the identification and study of the Brahmi script by The Asiatic Society's James Prinsep. It led to the rediscovery of the Mauryan emperor and the unearthing of the full extent of his empire.
Brahmi inscriptions by Ashoka give information on the extent of the empire urging that period. Emperor Jahangir inscribed their ancestor's name and deliberately removed the third and fourth edicts (out of six edicts) of Ashoka inscribed in Brahmi script. The other scripts found on the Ashoka's pillar are the Schism edict and the Queen's edict. The former refers to the Kaushambi edict by Cunningham, which is a command from the emperor addressing the senior officials (Mahamatras) of Kaushambi, emphasizing the need to avoid dissension and stay united, whereas the latter refers to the charitable deeds of Ashoka's queen, Karuvaki, the mother of Prince Tivala. the 4th century Samudra Gupta's inscription in Sanskrit is a very useful example of the classical Gupta period. The Jahangir inscriptions overwrite much of Ashoka's inscriptions. It records Akbar's courtier Birbal visit in c.1575 to Sangam, the confluence of the three rivers, Ganga, Jamuna and Saraswati near Allhabad fort.
The Ashokan inscriptions on the Allahabad Pillar (along with inscriptions elsewhere) were essential to the pivotal to the identification and study of the Brahmi script by The Asiatic Society's James Prinsep. It led to the rediscovery of the Mauryan emperor and the unearthing of the full extent of his empire.
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| Emperor Ashoka's edits .sarthaks.com |
The inscription engraved in continuous lines around the column in Brahmi,
contains the same six edicts that can be seen on the other pillars.
Unfortunately, much of the third and fourth edicts have been destroyed
by the cutting of the inscription of Jahangir, recording the names of
his ancestors. His selfish act is quite deplorable, destroying the
historical facts and connectivity. Besides the six edicts, the
Allahabad pillar also includes what are known as the Schism edict and
the Queen's edict.
Presently the fort is now occupied by the Indian Army, special permission is needed to visit the pillar.
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