ASOKA AS A BUILDER

Asoka's monuments assumed various shapes and sizes. They include cities, monasteries, cave-dwellings, stupas, monolithic pillars, boulders and lastly rock edicts. Undoubtedly they are aimed at the propagation of his religion.

According to tradition, he founded two cities-the first in Srinagar in Kashmir and the other Devapattana, in Nepal. In each of these cities, he built tens of thousands of monasteries for monks of all faiths, and also temples for worship. The splendour of the ruins found in those places seem to chant their patron's name even today.

Next come 'Stupas', whose number is simply amazing. 84,000 stupas are said to have been built by him. They enshrine the relics of Buddha, or some celebrated saints who followed the foot-steps of their Lord. One among such stupas is now found on the top of a hill at Sanchi, which is conspicuous for miles, by its size and location.

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