Pillars of Ashoka
Ashoka the Great of India is said to have used Buddhism to legitimize his rule as well as unify his realm (Leidy, 11). This can easily be considered a strategic move since Buddhism was the first missionary religion. According to Hopfe & Woodward (55), Buddhism had spread throughout much of Asia as early as the third century. Siddhartha Gautama founded the religion of Buddhism some 2,500 years ago (Rosen, 16). One notable difference between Buddhism and other religions is the absence or non-recognition of sin. According to Walpola (4), the idea of sin is interpreted differently in Buddhism when compared to other religions. In Buddhism, the root of all evil is false views and ignorance. Perhaps the spread of the religion was due to its tolerance of other religions.
According to Walpola (5), the religion encouraged its followers to not only honor their own religion (Buddhism) but also honor other people’s religions. The religion warned its followers from condemning other people’s religions. In doing this, it ensured that Buddhism rendered service to other people’s religions as well as enhanced its own growth. Acting contrary to this would harm both their religion as well as other people’s religions. This is visible amongst other world religions such as Christianity and Islam. Here, the followers of these religions honor their religions while condemning other religions. This is always counterproductive as it harms both their individual religions as well as other people’s religions. According to Walpola (5), everyone should be tolerant and understanding of other people’s religions by listening to the doctrines professed by others.
Through my concentration looking at the symbol on top of the pillar, I was able to have a unique perspective of it. I imagined myself in the third century wearing the symbol around my neck. What would I feel then? What would be my societal status? How would people back then think of me when I walked down the street? How would people treat me when the saw me wearing this symbol around my neck? How old would I be to even wear such a symbol? The more I thought about these questions, the more I was able to understand its relevance and meaning in my own unique way. The first easily noticeable feature of the symbol is the three lions standing majestically. The lion is considered the king of the jungle. It is “feared” by all animals in the wild. These two characteristics of the lion are very significant.
The title of “king” is synonymous with ruling. However, it is also synonymous with justice. Kings were known to dispense justice throughout their kingdoms. They punished or rewarded people in accordance with their deeds. Therefore, when put around someone’s neck would have symbolized royalty. It would be a symbol to identify people who were closely related to the king or emperor. As such, they would not be walking casually in the streets. Instead, they would be guarded heavily by soldiers while the people bowed down with respect. When placed on the pillar, it is important to note that the lions are facing all directions. This gave me the feeling that everyone was subject to the king. That the king was aware of everybody’s actions and that no one could escape from his or her wrongdoings. The king would find them wherever they had hidden and punish them. Generally, it symbolized power and control. The fact that the lion is feared is also significant in that anyone who wore the symbol around his or her neck would automatically mean that they had power and influence in the kingdom hence people feared would fear them.
Within the context of Buddhism, the lions in the symbol are emblems of royal power and prestige (Leidy, 11). In fact, lions are a reference to the historical Buddha who was known as the “lion of the Shakya clan” (Leidy, 11). Another notable symbol found on the pillars of Ashoka is the wheel. The wheel was associated with continuity and progress. This was in line with the objectives of the religion as well as the ruler, Ashaka the great, as he tried to encourage the spread of Buddhism throughout the kingdom and beyond. According to Leidy (), he sent missionaries to Sri Lanka, which was the southernmost part of the subcontinent. The missionaries were also sent to parts of Southeast Asia and the West to places such as Syria, Libya, and Macedonia. This shows what the artist had in mind when making the symbol. The artist had both historical and religious aspects in mind when creating the symbol. The historical aspect was the fact that the wheel was designed to show the progress of Buddhism while the religious aspect was a reference to the historical Buddha (the lion of the Shakya Clan).
The other symbols found on the pillars of Ashoka include a wheel, an elephant, a bull, and a horse. These symbols are found bellow the three majestic lions. The elephant, bull, and horse are animals that are known for their immense strength. Therefore, these symbols are used to show the strength that Buddhism possesses. However, it is important to note that Ashoka despite his power, he ruled according to virtues such as patience and tolerance as taught in Buddhism to ensure peace and stability. He also built hospitals and resting places for travelers. This is in line with the Buddhist primary ethical activity, which is giving (Harvey, 267). According to Coogan (62), such actions that reflect duty, righteousness, and ethics are key in Hinduism. This is in contrast to some historical figures such as Yu, the founder of the Xia dynasty who promoted agriculture and flood-control measures to try to ensure peace and stability in his kingdom (Watson,8). On the other hand, the ancient rulers such as the Yellow Emperor, who was considered excellent in virtue and wisdom, contributed to his people by teaching them civilization (Addiss & Lombardo, 1). However, according to Addiss (186), some Chinese patriarchs exaggerated their virtues while others embellished their lives with miraculous legends hence raising questions over their credibility.
Works Cited
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Michell, George. Hindu Art and Architecture. New York, Thames & Hudson, 2000.
Harvey, Peter. An Introduction to Buddhism. 2nd ed. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2013. Print.
Hopfe, Lewis M. and Mark R. Woodward. Religions of the World. 12th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2007. Print.
Leidy, Denise Patry. The Art of Buddhism: An Introduction to its History and Meaning. Boston: Shambhala, 2008. Print.
Rahula, Walpola. What the Buddha Taught. New York: Grove Press. 1959. Print.
Rosen, Steven J. Essential Hinduism. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers, 2006. Print.
Ta o Te C h i n g. Trans. Stephen Addiss and Stanley Lombardo. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing, Co., 1993. Print.