Sopara Rock Edict
Sopara Rock Edict is a fragmentary rock edict of Ashoka discovered at Sopara (ancient Shurparaka) in Palghar District, Maharashtra, India.
Overview
The Sopara Rock Edict is a fragmentary Brahmi inscription attributed to Emperor Ashoka, containing portions of Major Rock Edicts VIII and IX. It was discovered in 1882 on a rock at the base of a Buddhist stupa mound at Sopara.
Historical Context
Sopara was an ancient port on the western coast of India, serving as a gateway for maritime trade with the Western world. The edict fragment was discovered by Pandit Bhagwanlal Indraji in 1882. The inscription is fragmentary, with only portions of lines 2, 3, 5, and 6 of Ashoka’s standard edicts surviving. It mentions the appointment of Mahamatas (high officials) and references to religious tolerance.
Features/Significance
The Sopara Edict is the only Ashokan inscription found on the western coast of India, demonstrating the extent of Mauryan administrative reach. The fragmentary text references Dhamma and the moral duties prescribed by Ashoka. The stupa mound at Sopara yielded Buddhist relics and coins from multiple periods.
Modern Status
The inscription is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India and is housed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (Prince of Wales Museum) in Mumbai. The stupa mound at Sopara remains partially excavated.
Verification Notes
- ASI site code: MH-PGH-1
- Fragmentary Ashokan Brahmi inscription, c. 250 BCE
- Discovered 1851 at ancient port of Sopara