Major Pillar Edict

Rampurva

Major Pillar Edict - IV (Rampurva)

Major Pillar Edict - IV (Rampurva Version)

Location
Rampurva: The site is situated in west Champaran district of Bihar. This site features two pillars of Asoka. Mr. Carlleyle found the northern pillar buried in a morass, with some three feet only protruding above the surface. The southern column was standing to a height of some 6'…, Bihar, India
Date
c. 260–250 BCE
Script
Brahmi
Language
Prakrit
Type
Major Pillar Edict
Coordinates
27.2625° N, 84.4667° E

Overview

Rampurva Rampurva: The site is situated in west Champaran district of Bihar. This site features two pillars of Asoka. Mr. Carlleyle found the northern pillar buried in a morass, with some three feet only protruding above the surface. The southern column was standing to a height of some 6' above the ground. Its upper portion, including most of the shaft and the capital, was missing. Mr. Carlleyle did not search for them, but exposed the upper 40 of the northern pillar carrying the trench around it to a depth of more than 8. At this point his work was stopped by the percolation of water. A year or two later, Mr. Garrick was deputed by General Cunningham to procure a photograph of the capital which crowned the northern pillar, and this he proceeded to disconnect from the shaft and remove to a distance of about 37' away. The task would seem to have been a somewhat difficult one, if we may judge by the innumerable small chips, etc., and it is much to be deplored that it was ever undertaken. Mr. Garrick also did some digging around the columns and drove shallow pits into the centres of the two mounds situated near the southern pillar, but they yielded no antiquities of any int…

Rampurva site view
Rampurva

Location

The Inscription

Full original text and translation for this edict will be published as edition data is finalised.