Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation
Consider the following statements: 1. The inscriptions on the pillar at Rummindei give vivid details of Ashoka's Dhamma. 2. The Nigalisagar inscription records the fact of Ashoka having visited the Konagamana stupa.
Solution & Analysis
Answer: B
Concept
Ashoka's commemorative pillars served specific administrative or religious purposes, often marking the physical itinerary of his royal pilgrimages (Dhammayatras).Explanation
The Rummindei pillar records Ashoka’s visit to Lumbini (Buddha's birthplace) and a specific tax reduction; it is not a treatise on Dhamma. The Nigalisagar pillar specifically mentions that Ashoka visited the stupa of the former Buddha Konagamana and enlarged it.Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Statement 1 is incorrect; Rummindei is an administrative/economic record of a sacred visit, not a summary of Dhamma principles.
Logic 2: Statement 2 is correct; it confirms Ashoka's devotion to the cult of former Buddhas, showing his attempt to revitalize ancient stupas.