A report on Jainism and Ashoka

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.
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.
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.
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.
Jain temple painting explaining Anekantavada with Blind men and an elephant
The Aramaic Inscription of Taxila probably mentions Ashoka.
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.
Nishidhi stone, depicting the vow of sallekhana, 14th century, Karnataka
Kanaganahalli inscribed panel portraying Asoka with Brahmi label "King Asoka", 1st–3rd century CE.
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.
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.
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 birth of Mahavira, from the Kalpa Sūtra (c.1375–1400 CE)
Ashoka and Monk Moggaliputta-Tissa at the Third Buddhist Council. Nava Jetavana, Shravasti.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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).
Ranakpur Jain Temple
Distribution of the Edicts of Ashoka, and location of the contemporary Greek city of Ai-Khanoum.
Dilwara Temples
The Kandahar Edict of Ashoka, a bilingual inscription (in Greek and Aramaic) by King Ashoka, discovered at Kandahar (National Museum of Afghanistan).
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.

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 hand symbolizes Ahiṃsā, the wheel dharmachakra, the resolve to halt saṃsāra (transmigration).

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Karnataka

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State in the southwestern region of India.

State in the southwestern region of India.

Mallikarjuna temple and Kashi Vishwanatha temple at Pattadakal, built successively by the kings of the Chalukya Empire and Rashtrakuta Empire, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Chief Minister Dr. Devaraj Urs announcing the new name of the Mysore state as 'Karnataka'
Jog Falls, formed by Sharavathi River, are the second-highest plunge waterfalls in India.
Political map of Indian state of Karnataka with the official names of its 31 districts.
emblem of Karnataka
Infosys, a Bengaluru-headquartered information-technology company,
A yakshagana artist
Vishnu image inside the Badami Cave Temple Complex number 3. The complex is an example of Indian rock-cut architecture.
Gomateswara (982–983) at Shravanabelagola is an important centre of Jain pilgrimage.
Halmidi inscription (450 CE) is the earliest attested inscription in the Kannada language.
Indian Institute of Science is one of the premier institutes of India.
Literacy rates of Karnataka districts
Anil Kumble, former captain of the Indian Test team and spin legend, is the highest wicket-taker for India in international cricket.
M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.
The state bird, Indian roller
Bengal tigers at Bannerghatta National Park near Bangalore
Chennakesava Temple is a model example of the Hoysala architecture, later repaired in the 16th century with financial support and grants by the Vijayanagara Emperors.
Gol Gumbaz at Bijapur has the second largest pre-modern dome in the world after the Byzantine Hagia Sophia.
Mysore Palace in the evening, the official residence and seat of the Wodeyar dynasty, the rulers of Mysore of the Mysore Kingdom, the royal family of Mysore.

Prior to the third century BCE, most of Karnataka formed part of the Nanda Empire before coming under the Mauryan empire of Emperor Ashoka.

The Jain philosophy and literature have contributed immensely to the religious and cultural landscape of Karnataka.

Vidisha

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City in central Madhya Pradesh, India.

City in central Madhya Pradesh, India.

Relative locations of the Heliodorus pillar, Besnagar, Vidisha, Sanchi and the Udayagiri Caves.
The inscription 𑀯𑁂𑀤𑀺𑀲 Vedisa (for the city of Vidisha) at Sanchi, Brahmi script, 1st century BCE.
Pataria Jain temples
Pillar in the Bijamaṇḍal with an inscription of Naravarman
Maladevi temple
Capital of one of the pillars of Ashoka, from Udayagiri near Vidisha.
Jain sculpture inside Bajramath temple
Vidisha District Museum.
View of platform No.1
Archaeological plan of the old city of Besnagar
Archaeological layers at Besnagar: the Temple of Vāsudeva in the forefront, and the Heliodorus pillar in the back
Besnagar pottery Period V
Besnagar silver punch-marked coins.
Besnagar Yakshini
Besnagar Kalpadruma
Besnagar Buddhist railings
Besnagar Buddhist railings
Besnagar pillar capitals
View of Heliodorus pillar
Besnagar Ganga statue

The Emperor Ashoka was the governor of Vidisha during his father's lifetime.

The temple faces the east, and was a Hindu temple later transformed into a Jain temple.