Ashokan Pillars and Mauryan Stone Sculpture (c.3rd century BCE–1st century CE)

1. Ashoka adopts public policy of dhamma

   Jan 1, 260 BCELabels: Ashoka, Dhamma, Mauryan Empire

   • Britannica
   • Pillars

2. Ashoka’s Barabar cave dedications begin

   Jan 1, 258 BCELabels: Barabar Caves, Ashoka, Rock-cut

   • Barabar

3. Barabar cave inscriptions expand in Ashoka’s reign

   Jan 1, 251 BCELabels: Barabar Caves, Ashoka, Mauryan Court

   • Barabar
   • Polish

4. Sarnath Lion Capital created as Buddhist monument

   Jan 1, 250 BCELabels: Sarnath Lion, Ashoka, Buddhism

   • Britannica
   • ORIAS
   • LionCap

5. Lumbini pillar inscription marks royal pilgrimage

   Jan 1, 249 BCELabels: Lumbini Pillar, Ashoka, Buddha Birth

   • Lumbini

6. Nigali Sagar pillar records stupa enlargement

   Jan 1, 249 BCELabels: Nigali Sagar, Ashoka, Stupa

   • Nigali

7. Major pillar edicts spread imperial ethical rules

   Jan 1, 242 BCELabels: Major Pillar, Ashoka, Imperial Policy

   • Pillars
   • Areraj

8. Mauryan polish becomes a defining stonework marker

   Jan 1, 220 BCELabels: Mauryan Polish, Mauryan Workshops, Stone Finish

   • Polish

9. Colossal yaksha statues show new stone sculpture style

   Jan 1, 150 BCELabels: Yaksha Statues, Mathura, Stone Sculpture

   • Parkham

10. Didarganj Yakshi becomes key benchmark for early statuary

    Jan 1, 100 BCELabels: Didarganj Yakshi, Sandstone Statuary, Polish Debate

    • Didarganj
    • Polish

11. Ashokan pillars are reused and moved in later states

    Jan 1, 1350Labels: Firoz Shah, Pillar Reuse, Delhi

    • DelhiTopra
    • Pillars

12. Sarnath capital becomes India’s state emblem reference

    Jan 26, 1950Labels: Sarnath Capital, Indian State, 20th Century

    • LionCap
    • Britannica