November 28, 2013
Our day started early at Shahapur. I was up and ready to move by 5-30, so was Suresh the cab driver. We had hot and fresh tea at the main square of Shahapur town. I was pretty excited about seeing the first major rock edict of emperor Ashoka at Sannati however I had to be patient until dawn so that it was light enough to see the outline of Shahapur hills. Yes, the plan was to see the sleeping Buddha hill. Indeed the hills looks like Buddha - many call this Nature's tribute to Gautama Buddha. Ideally the hill should be seen at dusk, when Sun is behind the hill it creates a beautiful silhouette of sleeping Buddha. We let Buddha sleep and start our journey towards Sannati.
Though the distance between Shahapur and Sannati is 20 odd kilometers, the journey lasted almost an hour because we had to stop often to make sure we were heading in the right directions. Also, the last 4 kms were terrible, the road surface was a 3D sine wave, just I or II gears :-( Finally we made it to Bhima river, we were on the bridge looking at Yadgir district on the right and Gulbarga district on the left.
Bhima as seen from Sannati barrage |
Sri Chandrala Parameshwari temple |
Buddhist center of Sannati-Kanaganahalli |
HIS GREATNESS | Ashoka was a marvelously talented man of extraordinary qualities and one of the greatest kings who ever ruled in the world. He was a great conqueror, builder, politician, ruler, righteous social reformer, philosopher, saint, a man of compassion and vision, a lover of wildlife and a keen environmentalist. The mission he organized to spiritually win the world was instrumental in spreading an humble doctrine of India to the wide stretches of the world. - Madhukar Piplayan
Sannati Inscription of Ashoka
- It is a major rock edict.
- It also has the rock edict nos. XII and XIV.
- It was found in Sannati, a village in Chitapur taluq in Gulbarga district.
- It is 27 kms from Yadgir and located on the left bank of Bhima, a tributary of river Krishna.
- Sannati is known for Chadralamba temple, a well known pilgrimage center.
- Major edicts are 24 and special rock edicts I & II available in Dhauli are found in Sannati as well i.e. the Kalinga version. It is written as a special rock edict for neighboring people.
- All Major Rock Edicts were within the kingdom.
- Zhonnagiri > Suvarnagiri > Svarnagiri > Sonagiri > Sannagiri
- The 2 edicts XII and XIV on the first face (A) of the slab in Sannati were discovered by Sarvashri R V Siva Sarma and J Vara Prasada Rao.
Ashokan Edicts from Sannati: Early Brahmi Inscriptions from Sannati
(A) The First Face
It contains in all twelve lines. The upper and the lower four are separated by a short horizontal stroke at the left margin indicating that they are two different edicts. The ridged border and the sizing of the rock to prepare the nalika (water chute) has caused serious damage to the letters of the text. The beginnings in some lines and the right extent of the inscribed part are badly damaged as a result, the full text of the existing edicts cannot be made out. The writing is somewhat indifferent. The lines are not straight but leaning towards left though the letters are subjected to polish, the traces of which can be felt. The letters forms recall Minor Rock Edicts I-II of Nittur and Udegolam etc.
The extant record on this face is incomplete, as the slab is broken at either sides, but does provide some clues for identification and proper assignment. The text is in lines of Brahmi characters of the Ashokan times, the language being Prakit. In line-9, the clear mention "iyam dhamma lipi devanam piyena" is enough to assign the edict to Asoka. In the available portions, however, there is no mention of the personal name of Asoka.
Text Edict XII (lines 1-8)
1. ...pa...lana...
2. ...aka [te] na he...
3. ...tam anta pasada ca cha...la pasa...
4. ...galahati save ata pisada...kita a...
5. ...ga ata pasadam sesamavayeva pa sa ma
6. ...sava pasada bahu suta ca kiyaya [na] gama
7. cama nu ta atha kiti salava
8. mahavata vaca raji mika anebini
TRANSLATION (Full Text)
1. King Priyadarsin, beloved of Gods, honors men of all religious communities
2. Both with gifts and with honors of various kinds (irrespective of wwhether they are ascetics or householders).
3. But th beloved of Gods does not value either the (offering of) gifts or the honoring (of people) so (highly) as the following, viz., that there should be a growth of the essentials of Dharma among men of all sects.
4. But a promotion of the essentials (in Dharma is possible) in many ways its toot is thus guarding (one's) speech, that neither praising one's own sect or disparagement of other sects should take place.
5. It should be moderate in every case even on appropriate occasions.
6. if one is acting this, he is promoting his own sect and benefiting other sects
7. If a person acts otherwise (he) not only injures his own sect very severally but also harms other sects.
8. All (this) out of devotion to his own sect with a view to glorify his own sect if he is acting thus, he rather injures his own sect severally.
9. Therefore, concord alone is meritorious i.e. they should both hear and obey each others morals. For this is the desire of Devanampriya that all sects.
10. Become well informed and acquire pure knowledge of the doctrine and those who are attached to their respective (sects) out to be spoken to (as follows). Devanampriya does not value either the (offering of) gifts or honoring (the people) so highly as the following.
11. That promotion of the essentials of all sects should take place and many officers are occupied for this purpose, the mahamantras in-charge of dharma the mahamantras in-charge of the (matters relating to) ladies.
12. The officers in-charge of (my cattle and) pasture lands and other classes (of officials). And the result of their acts is the promotion of one's own sect and the glorification of Dharma.
Text Edict XIV (lines 1-4)
1. eyam dhamma lipi devanampiyena ...vasa...
2. no hisavate save ghati [te]...
3. tasa tasa a [-] sa madhuliyaye...[jane] tatha[...]...
4. kalanam va alochayatu lipa [i] kalapa [la] dhavata
TRANSLATION (Full Text)
1. This record relating to Dharma has been caused to be written by king Devanampriya beloved of Gods.
2. Either in abridged (form) or of middle (size) or at full length.
3. And the whole was not suitable everywhere.
4. For (my) dominions are wide, and much has been written, and I shall certainly cause still a lot (more) to be written.
5. And (some) of this has been stated again and again owing to their sweetness, so that people may act accordingly.
6. Thus there may be some (topic) which have been written incompletely either on account of the locality, or because (my) motive was not liked or owing to a fault of the scribe.
(B) The Second Face
The characters of the record on the reverse face are closer to teh ones discovered on the (A) First Face and somewhat better preserved because the slab was buried under the soil and not affected by human activity. The text, is, therefore, better preserved.The content of the major record which occupies the central portion of the stele is very similar to the Separate Rock Edict II found at Jaugada, District Ganjam, Orissa. A version of this Separate Rock Edict was also found at Dhauli in Puri District along with separate Rock Edict I. D.C. Sircar regarded this separate Kalinga edict as Rock Edict XV. Though numbered as Separate Rock Edict II in the sequence this is actually the first one to be carved. In the Sannati record, minor textual variations can be noted. There is no mention of the epithet devanam priya or piyadasi laja etc. but referneces to mahamantra (line 14) is seen and the name of the king is also not mentioned. But in Jaugada version, besides the devanampriya a viceroy named Samapa was also cited.
In Kalinga country (Dhauli and Jaugada) the Separate Rock Edict are issued in place of Rock Edicts XI, XII and XIII. While at Sannati we know about Edicts XII and XIV clearly but the rest are fragmentary in nature. Presently they could be satisfactorily identified too.
Now I look beyond the borders of Karnataka and the nearest major rock inscription is at Erragudi near Gooty in Andhra Pradesh. My heart yearns to go there...
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