View at Sasaram, looking towards the terminal spur of the Kimur Range, near the top of which is the Asoka Edict

Photograph the Kimur Range at Sasaram, taken by Alexander Caddy in 1895. Ashoka (reign ca. 272-231 BC) was the most illustrious king of the Maurya dynasty. After his conquest of the kingdom of Kalinga in modern day Orissa, struck with remorse at the suffering he caused, Ashoka converted to Buddhism and spent the rest of his life propagating his dharma (law). In order to achieve this, he had numerous edicts inscribed on rocks, pillars and caves, throughout his vast empire. These are written in various vernaculars and represent the earliest written document from the Indic regions. From these edicts it would appear clear that Ashoka was an extremely tolerant and benevolent monarch. The inscription at Sasaram represents one of the earliest edicts of the emperor Ashoka. It is engraved on a small rock and it is written in old Brahmi characters.