page_title: Major Rock Edicts
section_title: Major Rock Edict 8
hierarchical_section_title: Major Rock Edicts / Content of the Edicts / Major Rock Edict 8
caption_attribution_description: English: "Bodhi" inscription in the Brahmi script
context_page_description: The Major Rock Edicts of Indian Emperor Ashoka refer to 14 separate major Edicts of Ashoka which are significantly detailed and represent some of the earliest dated rock inscriptions of any Indian monarch. For a full English translation of the Edicts. These edicts are preceded chronologically by the Minor Rock Edicts.
context_section_description: Morality tours by Ashoka. This Edict is remarkable in that it describes the visit of the king to Sambodhi ( Saṃ+bodhi, “Complete Enlightenment”), another name of Bodh Gaya. It is thought that Ashoka built in Bodh Gaya the Diamond Throne, in order to mark the place where the Buddha reached enlightenment.
  According to tradition, Ashoka was profoundly grieved when he discovered that the sacred pipal tree was not properly being taken care of and dying out due to the neglect of Queen Tiṣyarakṣitā. As a consequence, Ashoka endeavoured to take care of the Bodhi Tree, and built a temple around it. This temple became the center of Bodh Gaya. A sculpture at Sanchi, southern gateway of Stupa No1, shows Ashoka in grief being supported by his two Queens. Then the relief above shows the Bodhi Tree prospering inside its new temple. Numerous other sculptures at Sanchi show scenes of devotion towards the Bodhi Tree, and the Bodhi Tree inside its temple at Bodh Gaya.
  The Kalsi version also uses the title "Devanampriyas" to describe previous kings (whereas the other versions use the term "Kings"), suggesting that the title "Denampriya" had a rather wide usage and might just have meant "King".
caption: The word Bodhi ("Enlightenment") first appears in Major Rock Edict No.8.[29]
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