Mauryan Pilgrimage Records
Rummindei vs Nigalisagar Pillar Inscriptions | Ashoka
The Nigalisagar inscription records Ashoka's visit to the Konagamana stupa, while the Rummindei pillar records his visit to Buddha's birthplace, not Dhamma details.
Primary Reference: NCERT Class XII - Themes in Indian History Part I
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Updated:
Exam Year
2016
Evidence Source
Link ↗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.
[UPSC CDS 2016 (I)]
Detailed Solution & Historical Context
Concept
Ashoka's commemorative pillars served specific administrative or religious purposes, often marking the physical itinerary of his royal pilgrimages (Dhammayatras).
Authentic Source Evidence
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.
Analytical Breakdown
Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic
"What economic action did Ashoka take at Rummindei?"
He exempted the village from the religious tax (bali) and reduced the land share (bhaga) to 1/8th.
Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip
"The Nigalisagar and Rummindei pillars prove that Ashoka’s religious activity included the physical renovation of sites belonging to 'Previous Buddhas'."
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