A report on Indian religions, Jainism and Ashoka

Major religious groups as a percentage of world population
The hand symbolizes Ahiṃsā, the wheel dharmachakra, the resolve to halt saṃsāra (transmigration).
A c. 1st century BCE/CE relief from Sanchi, showing Ashoka on his chariot, visiting the Nagas at Ramagrama.
"Priest King" of Indus Valley Civilisation
Classification of Saṃsāri Jīvas (transmigrating souls) in Jainism
Ashoka's Major Rock Edict at Junagadh contains inscriptions by Ashoka (fourteen of the Edicts of Ashoka), Rudradaman I and Skandagupta.
The so-called Pashupati seal, showing a seated and possibly ithyphallic figure, surrounded by animals.
Lord Neminatha, Akota Bronzes (7th century)
King Ashoka visits Ramagrama, to take relics of the Buddha from the Nagas, but in vain. Southern gateway, Stupa 1, Sanchi.
Hindu Swastika
Jain miniature painting of 24 tirthankaras, Jaipur, c. 1850
The Major Rock Edict No.13 of Ashoka, mentions the Greek kings Antiochus, Ptolemy, Antigonus, Magas and Alexander by name, as recipients of his teachings.
Buddha statue at Darjeeling
Jain temple painting explaining Anekantavada with Blind men and an elephant
The Aramaic Inscription of Taxila probably mentions Ashoka.
Buddhist Monks performing traditional Sand mandala made from coloured sand
A Jain monk in meditation, wearing the characteristic white robe and face covering
The Saru Maru commemorative inscription seems to mention the presence of Ashoka in the area of Ujjain as he was still a Prince.
Saga Agastya, father of Tamil literature
Nishidhi stone, depicting the vow of sallekhana, 14th century, Karnataka
Kanaganahalli inscribed panel portraying Asoka with Brahmi label "King Asoka", 1st–3rd century CE.
Typical layout of Dravidian architecture which evolved from koyil as king's residence.
Praying at the feet of a statue of Bahubali
Stupa of Sanchi. The central stupa was built during the Mauryas, and enlarged during the Sungas, but the decorative gateway is dated to the later dynasty of the Satavahanas.
Krishna fighting the horse demon Keshi, 5th century, Gupta period.
Jain worship may include ritual offerings and recitals.
Illustration of the original Mahabodhi Temple temple built by Asoka at Bodh Gaya. At the center, the Vajrasana, or "Enlightenment Throne of the Buddha", with its supporting columns, being the object of adoration. A Pillar of Ashoka topped by an elephant appears in the right corner. Bharhut relief, 1st century BCE.
A basalt statue of Lalita flanked by Gaṇeśa and Kārttikeya, Pala era.
Celebrating Das Lakshana (Paryushana), Jain Center of America, New York City
The rediscovered Vajrasana, or "Enlightenment Throne of the Buddha", at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya. It was built by Ashoka to commemorate the enlightenment of the Buddha, about two hundred years before him.
The Golden Temple of Mahalakshmi at Vellore.
The birth of Mahavira, from the Kalpa Sūtra (c.1375–1400 CE)
Ashoka and Monk Moggaliputta-Tissa at the Third Buddhist Council. Nava Jetavana, Shravasti.
An aerial view of the Meenakshi Temple from the top of the southern gopuram, looking north. The temple was rebuilt by the Vijayanagar Empire.
Shikharji
A king - most probably Ashoka - with his two queens and three attendants, in a relief at Sanchi. The king's identification with Ashoka is suggested by a similar relief at Kanaganahalli, which bears his name.
Harmandir Sahib (The Golden Temple) is culturally the most significant place of worship for the Sikhs.
Idol of Suparśvanātha
Ashoka with his queen, at Kanaganahalli near Sannati, 1st–3rd century CE. The relief bears the inscription "Rāya Asoko" (𑀭𑀸𑀬 𑀅𑀲𑁄𑀓𑁄, "King Ashoka") in Brahmi script. It depicts the king with his queen, two attendants bearing fly-whisks, and one attendant bearing an umbrella.
Mahamagam Festival is a holy festival celebrated once in twelve years in Tamil Nadu. Mahamagam Festival, which is held at Kumbakonam. This festival is also called as Kumbamela of South.
A symbol to represent the Jain community was chosen in 1975 as part of the commemoration of the 2,500th anniversary of Mahavira’s nirvana.
Emperor Ashoka and his Queen at the Deer Park. Sanchi relief.
The largest religious gathering ever held on Earth, the 2001 Maha Kumbh Mela held in Prayag attracted around 70 million Hindus from around the world.
Rishabhdev, believed to have lived over 592.704×1018 years ago, is considered the traditional founder of Jainism.
The word Upāsaka (𑀉𑀧𑀸𑀲𑀓, "Buddhist lay follower", in the Brahmi script), used by Ashoka in his Minor Rock Edict No.1 to describe his affiliation to Buddhism (circa 258 BCE).
Map showing the prevalence of Abrahamic (pink) and Indian religions (yellow) in each country
The ruins of Gori Jain temples in Nagarparkar, Pakistan, a pilgrimage site before 1947.
Territories "conquered by the Dhamma" according to Major Rock Edict No.13 of Ashoka (260–218 BCE).
A devotee facing the Ganga, reading a stack of holy books ("Chalisa" of various god) at the Kumbh Mela
Ranakpur Jain Temple
Distribution of the Edicts of Ashoka, and location of the contemporary Greek city of Ai-Khanoum.
A holy place for all religion - "Mazar of Pir Mubarak Gazi"
Dilwara Temples
The Kandahar Edict of Ashoka, a bilingual inscription (in Greek and Aramaic) by King Ashoka, discovered at Kandahar (National Museum of Afghanistan).
Symbols of Major Indian Religions
Parshvanath Temple in Khajuraho
The Minor Rock Edict of Maski mentions the author as "Devanampriya Asoka", definitively linking both names, and confirming Ashoka as the author of the famous Edicts.
Girnar Jain temples
A c. 1910 painting by Abanindranath Tagore (1871–1951) depicting Ashoka's queen standing in front of the railings of the Buddhist monument at Sanchi (Raisen district, Madhya Pradesh).
Jal Mandir, Pawapuri
The Ashokan pillar at Lumbini, Nepal, Buddha's birthplace
Lodhurva Jain temple
The Diamond throne at the Mahabodhi Temple, attributed to Ashoka
Palitana temples
Front frieze of the Diamond throne
Saavira Kambada Basadi, Moodbidri, Karnataka
Mauryan ringstone, with standing goddess. Northwest Pakistan. 3rd century BCE. British Museum
Jain temple, Antwerp, Belgium
Rampurva bull capital, detail of the abacus, with two "flame palmettes" framing a lotus surrounded by small rosette flowers.
Brahma Jinalaya, Lakkundi
Caduceus symbol on a Maurya-era punch-marked coin
Hutheesing Jain Temple
A punch-marked coin attributed to Ashoka<ref>{{cite book |last=Mitchiner |first=Michael |date=1978 |title=Oriental Coins & Their Values: The Ancient and Classical World 600 B.C. - A.D. 650 |publisher=Hawkins Publications |page=544 |isbn=978-0-9041731-6-1}}</ref>
A Maurya-era silver coin of 1 karshapana, possibly from Ashoka's period, workshop of Mathura. Obverse: Symbols including a sun and an animal Reverse: Symbol Dimensions: 13.92 x 11.75 mm Weight: 3.4 g.
The Lion Capital of Ashoka in Sarnath, showing its four Asiatic lions standing back to back, and symbolizing the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism, supporting the Wheel of Moral law (Dharmachakra, reconstitution per Sarnath Museum notice). The lions stand on a circular abacus, decorated with dharmachakras alternating with four animals in profile: horse, bull, elephant, and lion. The architectural bell below the abacus, is a stylized upside down lotus. Sarnath Museum.

Jainism also known as Jain Dharma, is an ancient Indian religion.

- Jainism

These religions, which include Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism, are also classified as Eastern religions.

- Indian religions

The Buddha was born at Lumbini, as emperor Ashoka's Lumbini pillar records, just before the kingdom of Magadha (which traditionally is said to have lasted from c. 546–324 BCE) rose to power.

- Indian religions

This legend about Ashoka's search for a worthy teacher may be aimed at explaining why Ashoka did not adopt Jainism, another major contemporary faith that advocates non-violence and compassion.

- Ashoka

Jain tradition states that Chandragupta Maurya (322–298 BCE), the founder of the Mauryan Empire and grandfather of Ashoka, became a monk and disciple of Jain ascetic Bhadrabahu in the later part of his life.

- Jainism

The word "Dharma" has various connotations in the Indian religions, and can be generally translated as "law, duty, or righteousness".

- Ashoka
Major religious groups as a percentage of world population

1 related topic with Alpha

Overall
The Prakrit word "dha-ṃ-ma"/𑀥𑀁𑀫 (Sanskrit: Dharma धर्म) in the Brahmi script, as inscribed by Emperor Ashoka in his Edicts of Ashoka (3rd century BCE).

Dharma

0 links

The Prakrit word "dha-ṃ-ma"/𑀥𑀁𑀫 (Sanskrit: Dharma धर्म) in the Brahmi script, as inscribed by Emperor Ashoka in his Edicts of Ashoka (3rd century BCE).
The Kandahar Bilingual Rock Inscription is from Indian Emperor Asoka in 258 BC, and found in Afghanistan. The inscription renders the word dharma in Sanskrit as eusebeia in Greek, suggesting dharma in ancient India meant spiritual maturity, devotion, piety, duty towards and reverence for human community.
Sikhism
The wheel in the centre of India's flag symbolises dharma.

Dharma (dharma, ; dhamma) is a key concept with multiple meanings in Indian religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and others.

In the 3rd century BCE the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka translated dharma into Greek and Aramaic he used the Greek word eusebeia (εὐσέβεια, piety, spiritual maturity, or godliness) in the Kandahar Bilingual Rock Inscription and the Kandahar Greek Edicts.