Why were the Ashoka inscriptions inscribed in the particular places they were inscribed?
Ashoka must have wanted people to stop, see and read his inscriptions or to have them read out to them. The inscriptions were inscribed on rocks and pillars at places along the important trade routes and pilgrimage routes. Some of them were inscribed near Buddhist monasteries. We don’t know exactly how many rock or pillar inscriptions there originally were, because some of them must have got destroyed over time. Others may still be discovered. Kalsi is located on the banks of the Yamuna river, near the place where the Yamuna meets the Tons river. It lies on the route that leads to Jamnotri, the place from where the Yamuna river emerges from the mountains. This is an old pilgrim route, and many pilgrims must have moved along this route in ancient times. We can imagine some of them pausing at the Kalsi rock, perhaps to take a rest on their long, tiring journey. Those who knew how to read would have read Ashoka’s inscriptions, and perhaps read them out to their companions. There are a few
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