Consider the following statements :
Statement - I: In his inscriptions, Ashoka suggested that rituals are not useful.
Statement II: People in the Mauryan empire followed different religions and this sometimes led to conflict and animal sacrifice.
Options :

Correct option is D

Both statements are correct, and Statement II is a cause for Statement I.

Statement I explains that Ashoka, in his inscriptions (particularly his Dhamma edicts), criticized ritualistic practices, especially those involving animal sacrifice. He believed that rituals had little practical value in achieving moral and ethical goals. After adopting Buddhism, Ashoka placed a greater emphasis on ethical conduct, compassion, and non-violence over traditional religious rituals.

Statement II correctly identifies that during the Mauryan Empire, there were diverse religious groups, including Buddhists, Jains, Hindus, and local traditions, which led to conflicts over practices such as animal sacrifice. Some groups, especially Buddhists and Jains, opposed these practices, while other religions continued to follow them. These conflicts often led to disharmony within the empire.

The conflicts arising from the diverse religious practices, particularly the violent rituals such as animal sacrifice, prompted Ashoka to speak out against such rituals. His experience of seeing religious diversity leading to violence likely influenced his Dhamma policy, where he discouraged rituals and promoted non-violence and compassion. Therefore, Statement II (the religious conflicts over rituals) directly influenced Statement I (Ashoka's discouragement of rituals), making II the cause of I.

Information Booster:

·       Ashoka’s Dhamma promoted moral conduct over religious rituals.

·       The Mauryan Empire was religiously diverse, with various faiths and practices, leading to tensions over animal sacrifice and other rituals.

·       Ashoka’s inscriptions often emphasized tolerance and non-violence, seeking to reduce conflict between religious groups.

·       His discouragement of ritualistic practices, especially those involving animal harm, aligned with his embrace of Buddhist values.

·       Religious conflicts within the Mauryan Empire likely shaped Ashoka’s policies, reinforcing his desire to minimize practices that caused harm and division.

Additional Knowledge:

·       Ashoka: After the Kalinga War, Ashoka embraced Buddhism and adopted its principles of non-violence (ahimsa) and compassion. He believed that rituals, especially violent ones like animal sacrifice, were unnecessary for achieving spiritual or moral goals. His Rock Edicts and Pillar Edicts reflect these sentiments, urging people to focus on moral behavior instead of elaborate rituals.

·       Religious Conflicts in the Mauryan Empire: The Mauryan Empire had a diverse religious population, and conflicts often arose between groups that followed different practices. Brahmanical traditions involved sacrifices, while Buddhism and Jainism emphasized non-violence and rejected such rituals. These differences created tensions, and Ashoka’s policy of Dhamma aimed to reduce these conflicts by discouraging harmful rituals and promoting harmony.

·       Influence of Buddhism on Ashoka: Ashoka’s adoption of Buddhism significantly influenced his policies. Buddhism promotes ethical living over ritualism, and Ashoka’s inscriptions reflect this shift in emphasis. He called for the abandonment of rituals that involved violence and encouraged a more compassionate and ethical way of life.