The Prakrit form of the word dharma is `dhamma’. Dhamma means religion, law of piety, morality, social and religious system. The basic tenets of Ashoka Dhamma can be found in the inscriptions carved by Ashoka himself. Namely

Mastery of Senses

Gratitude

Kindness

Purity

Service

Reverence – Deep Respect

Purity of Thought

Devotion

Charity

Truthfulness

Support

Reverence – Deep Respect

There is a difference of opinion among scholars as to which religion Ashoka Dhamma, which includes the above elements, is based on or influenced by.

Dr. According to Bhandarkar Ashoka Dhamma is Buddhism. He is a Buddhist. But Dr. who opposes it. Radha Kumud Mukherjee says that if Ashoka’s epitaphs were Dhamma Buddhism, he would at least refer to the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path and Nirvana. He was celebrating the great personality of Lord Buddha. But Mukherjee’s clear opinion is that Ashoka Dhamma, which does not do that, is not Buddhism.

Kallan in his work ‘Rajatarangini’ mentions that Ashoka was a worshiper of Shiva. Also in the epitaphs he called himself ‘Devanampri Priyadarshi’. K.M. Panikkar questions whether this god is other than the Vedic God. That means Ashoka was a Vedic. It means that his religion was based on ‘Vedic Dharma’ (Hinduism). But other scholars who oppose it say that if the dhamma advocated by Ashoka was the Vedic religion, he would have affirmed his belief in its symbolic animal sacrifice, yaga, tradition and rituals. But it is clear from them that Ashoka of Chakaravetta was not influenced by Vedic religion.

In fact it can be seen that Ashoka Dhamma was not influenced by any religion. But it is the essence of all religions. It is a free expression that does not come under the framework of any caste, creed or religion. Dr. R.C. According to Majumdar, “It is free to call his religion a code of conduct rather than a religion”. According to RK Mukherjee, “Ashoka’s religion was not a specific system but it was a code of conduct necessary for all castes, races and religions. His originality lies in his actions.” Smith says that Ashoka’s religion was not Buddhism but his own.

Prof. Romila Thapar opined. Ashoka’s Dhamma consisted of 4 main principles. They are

1. non-violence,

2. tolerance,

3. peace,

4. public welfare.

Ashoka’s dhamma considered rituals to be followed at times of illness, weddings, births and before traveling as corrupt and useless rituals. According to Dr. RK Mukherjee “Ashoka’s dhamma was not a specific dharma and religious system but moral laws which were necessary for all castes and races”. Dr|| Bhandarkar says “Ashoka’s Dhamma was a non-religious Buddhism”.

Nonviolence was the essence of Ashoka Dhamma. He practiced non-violence after the Kalinga War, banned animal sacrifice in his kingdom and stopped hunting himself. He gave up meat. He prohibited sacrifices. He made a royal order not to kill animals. He preached the importance of non-violence in his epitaph.

Tolerance means sympathy with slaves and employees, giving respect to elders, Guruvaryas as well as giving farewell. He also says to show generosity to the younger ones, lovers, dependents, the poor, the needy, friends, acquaintances, monks, Brahmins. Although Ashoka’s personal religion was Buddhism, he did not look down on other faiths. He saw the Brahmins with love and trust.

In the second epitaph, Ashoka himself wrote that the king respected all sects. He also built caves near Gaia for non-living beings. Ashoka did not force anyone to convert. This is the boast of Ashoka and the Dhamma. According to Ashoka’s Dhamma, one’s own sect becomes stronger when he respects the parasantha over his own sect. Every sect deserves reverence for its own reason.

Peace is the mantra of success. Unrest becomes chaos.

Ashoka upheld world brotherhood. He declared that all the people of the world are his brothers. This is what Ashoka made the most important feature of Dhamma. In this respect Ashoka can be called ‘the world’s first internationalist’.

Another important feature of Ashoka Dhamma is Praja Kalyana or the establishment of a happy state. Striving for the moral, worldly and spiritual upliftment of all his subjects, Ashoka devoted his life to their happiness. Similarly in his first Kalinga inscription all the subjects are his children. They should be happy not only in this world but also in the hereafter.” In the 6th epitaph, she said, “All citizens are my children. No matter where I am—whether dining, in the temple, the cowshed, my bedroom, or the palace—my door is always open. You can come to me at any time to seek guidance and overcome your problems. I am always ready to help.”