The Ashokan Edicts National Park/Ashoka Satambh Park, Topra Kalan in northern India, proposed in 2011 by Siddhartha Gauri and Dr. Satyadeep Neil Gauri, is devoted to the Buddhist teachings of Emperor Ashoka of the Maurya Empire.[1][2] The park in the Haryana village of Topra displays replicas of Ashokan pillars and rock edicts.[3][4] The park includes a sapling of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi tree from Sri Lanka.[4][5]
History
editDuring the reign of Emperor Ashoka, several pillars were erected with deciphered texts. In this period, these pillars were scattered all over India. Today they are preserved by the Archaeological Survey of India.[6] One such pillar composed of chukar rocks mined near Varanasi and bearing seven edicts in Brahmi script was erected in Topra. In the 14th century it was transported to Delhi via the Yamuna River.[5] British archaeologist James Prinsep decoded and translated its edicts in 1837.[7][5] In 2018, a replica of the pillar was made and placed in Topra Ashokan Edicts Archeological Park and Museum.[5]
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Dharam Chakra board Ashok Satambh Park at topra kalan -
Dharam chakra description of Ashok Satambh Park at topra kalan -
Fountain stone in Ashok Satambh Park at topra kalan -
Ashoka chakra at Ashok Satambh Park at topra kalan -
Process explaining making of Ashok Satambh Park at topra kalan -
Initial stone assembly board atAshok Satambh Park at topra kalan
Grants
editThe park owes its origins to the gift of 28 acres of land by the village panchayat of Topra Kalyan and an April 2015 commitment by the then-Chief Minister of Haryana, Manohar Lal Khattar, to provide 500 million Indian rupees (US$7.1 million)[1][2] for construction of the park.[3]
The Park
editThe park includes the replicas of Ashoka Pillar from Delhi, Replica of Babur Caves from Gaya Bihar, and an Ashoka statue from Odisha.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b "Yamunanagar village to have India's biggest Ashoka Chakra".
- ^ a b "Yamunanagar village to have India's biggest Ashoka Chakra". www.tatkalnews.com. Archived from the original on 2019-04-05. Retrieved 2018-12-21.
- ^ a b "In News – Asoka Edicts Park ⋆ The Buddhist Forum". Retrieved 2018-12-21.
- ^ a b "Park for Ashoka stalled?". dna. 2016-11-07. Archived from the original on 2017-08-03. Retrieved 2018-12-21.
- ^ a b c d e "Historical Hry village to have its own Ashoka Pillar". www.hindustantimes.com. 2014-02-23. Retrieved 2018-12-21.
- ^ "Mauryan-era Ashoka pillar withers away | Media India Group". mediaindia.eu. 5 December 2016. Archived from the original on 2017-07-12. Retrieved 2018-12-21.
- ^ "Haryana village wants Ashoka pillar back from Delhi - Times of India". The Times of India. 18 April 2011. Retrieved 2018-12-21.