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Ashoka Pillar |
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| The pyramidal structure in three storeys, seen
in what is known today as Firozshah Kotla, near Delhi Gate,
was built by Firozshah Tughlaq, to instal the Ashokan column,
seen on top. There are two Ashoka pillars in Delhi. This stone
pillar of Ashoka (273-236 BC) was transported from Topra, in
Ambala district (now in Haryana), on Firozshah Tughlaq's orders.
The other pillar, brought from Meerut, is seen installed near
Bara Hindu Rao Hospital ,at the Ridge, near Delhi University.
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| To bring this pillar to Delhi, silk cotton was
wrapped around it and it was then lowered on a soft bed, encased
in reed and raw skins and placed on a 42-wheel carriage. Two
hundred men pulled the carriage with strong ropes to the Yamuna
bank, the column was transferred to large boats and carried
down to Firozabad and then to Kushak. After completion of each
storey, the pillar was raised on to it, till it reached the
top. Once installed, ornamental friezes in black and white stones
were placed around the capital and over it was raised a guided
copper cupola (kalash). |
| The Ashoka edict is in Brahmi script containing
ten commandments of Buddha. In later centuries, minor records
of pilgrims and travellers were inscribed on it. A Sanskrit
engraving records the conquests of Chauhan king Visala (1163
AD). |
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