| Asoka
Priyadarsin |
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| Temples
Of India |
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ASOKA
AS A BUILDER |
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Incidentally,
these monuments bearing inscriptions enable us to read Asoka's mind.
They furnish a wealth of details about his life and convictions. We
hear his voice enunciating his doctrines in clear, precise, simple
language, as the texts of his edicts are composed by himself
personally. These sermons on rocks generally follow a common pattern
in the manner of beginning the sermon and the way they end. The
opening phrases of the inscriptions representing the full royal
style run thus: "Thus saith his sacred and gracious Majesty,
the King..." The ending indicating the Patron's name is more or
less same in all inscriptions. All inscriptions and edicts refer to
Asoka by his title and not by his name. They are "Davanam Priya",
and "Piya dasi" which mean "dear to the Gods"
and "of pleasing countenance" respectively. The word
"Priyadarsin", i.e., 'of gracious mein' or "dear to
sight" is only a title, which he appended to his name, in
conformity with the fashion of his day.
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