Question 23 from UPSC CSE 2019 - Ancient History

Question

In which of the following relief sculpture inscriptions is 'Ranyo Ashoka' (King Ashoka) mentioned along with the stone portrait of Ashoka?

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. Kanganahalli

Strategy: Focus on unique identifiers: 'Ranyo Ashoka' and visual portrait together narrow choices. Kanaganahalli is notable for both inscription and sculpture of Ashoka, an archaeological rarity. Other sites—Sanchi, Shahbazgarhi, Sohgaura—are significant for different artefacts or inscriptions but lack this specific combination. This eliminates all but Kanganahalli.

Key Info: Kanaganahalli, near Sannati in Karnataka, is an important Buddhist archaeological site excavated by the Archaeological Survey of India. It yielded a damaged stone portrait combined with an inscription referring to 'Ranyo Ashoka', meaning 'King Ashoka', in Brahmi script. This is the only known instance where both a sculpted image and direct mention in an inscription appear together for Ashoka, providing rare archaeological evidence of his physical representation and royal title.

Sanchi is a prominent Buddhist stupa site in Madhya Pradesh, noted for architectural grandeur, gateways, and narrative reliefs but does not record the 'Ranyo Ashoka' inscription with his portrait.

Shahbazgarhi, in present-day Pakistan, is famed for its Kharosthi-scripted rock edicts of Ashoka, but these pertain to his edicts—there is no sculptural depiction or inscription specifically mentioning 'Ranyo Ashoka' with his portrait.

Sohgaura, in Uttar Pradesh, is known for the earliest copper-plate inscription, ideally linked with famine relief, and predates Ashoka's reign, holding no evidence of sculpted royal portraiture or the 'Ranyo Ashoka' term.

Thus, Kanaganahalli offers the only conclusive archaeological combination of inscriptionally named 'Ranyo Ashoka' and a contemporary portrait, making it especially significant for the study of Mauryan iconography and epigraphy.

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Option B: Sanchi

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Option C: Shahbazgarhi

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Option D: Sohgaura