The Buddhist Empire of Ashoka's Pillars

This episode of Religion and Empire picks up where the Edicts of Ashoka left off—not with the edicts themselves, but with the towering sandstone pillars that carried them across the Mauryan Empire. Lucas and Luna explore how Ashoka's pillars served as both propaganda and sacred objects, blending Persian column traditions with Indian symbolism. They discuss the technical feat of quarrying and transporting monolithic shafts weighing up to 50 tons, the meaning of the animal capitals (especially the famous lions of Sarnath), and the Buddhist symbolism woven into every detail. The conversation also touches on the pillars' later destruction by later rulers and their rediscovery by British scholars in the 19th century. Along the way, they examine the pillars' role in spreading Dhamma—Ashoka's policy of non-violence and moral law—and how they functioned as boundary markers linking the emperor's authority to the Buddha's teachings. A fresh angle on the familiar story of Ashoka, focusing on the physical monuments that still stand today. #Ashoka #MauryaEmpire #PillarsOfAshoka #SarnathLionCapital #Dhamma #Buddhism #EdictsOfAshoka #IndianHistory #AncientIndia #StoneCarving #Monolith #LionCapital #Chakra #FexingoHistory #ReligionAndEmpire #History #AncientEmpires #Archaeology Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo