Tracing Ashoka In Ujjain: What New Dig At Vaishya Tekri Can Reveal, Pg13

Key Highlights:

• The Madhya Pradesh government has initiated the restoration of Buddhist monuments associated with Emperor Ashoka, beginning with a new excavation at Vaishya Tekri in Ujjain.
• Previous excavations in 1938-39 at Vaishya Tekri by the Gwalior State Department of Archaeology uncovered large bricks and punch-marked coins, suggesting a Mauryan period origin.
• Vaishya Tekri is identified as a large stupa, approximately 350 feet at its base and 100 feet high, with a smaller stupa named Kumbhar Tekri nearby.
• Historians believe Ashoka served as viceroy of Avanti (Ujjain) for about a decade under his father, Bindusara.
• Scholars advocate for comprehensive excavations to understand the site's evolution and associated structures beyond just the stupa.

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Detailed Insights:

• Ujjayini (modern Ujjain) was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Avanti and a significant commercial hub.
• It served as a crucial crossroads, connecting trade routes to western coastal ports like Broach and Sopira, as well as to Pataliputra.
• Ashoka's own edicts, issued after he became emperor, corroborate the presence of a kumara (prince) at Ujjain.
• Ujjain was an established urban center for centuries before Ashoka's tenure, flourishing along the Sipra river.
• Ashoka reportedly met Vedisadevi in Vidisha, who later became the mother of his children, Mahinda and Samghamitta.
• The current archaeological efforts aim to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the site, moving beyond interpretations based solely on earlier accounts.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Mauryan Period: An ancient Indian empire (c. 322–185 BCE) known for its vast territorial expansion and administrative efficiency.
• Stupa: A dome-shaped structure housing Buddhist relics, serving as a place of meditation and veneration.
• Viceroy: A royal official who governs a country or province in the name of and as representative of a monarch.
• Edicts: Official proclamations or decrees issued by a sovereign or authority, often inscribed on pillars or rocks.