Editing Ashoka (section)

=== Rediscovery ===

Ashoka had almost been forgotten, but in the 19th century [[James Prinsep]] contributed in the revelation of historical sources. After deciphering the [[Brahmi script]], Prinsep had originally identified the "[[Priyadasi]]" of the inscriptions he found with the King of [[Anuradhapura Kingdom|Ceylon]] [[Devanampiya Tissa of Anuradhapura|Devanampiya Tissa]]. However, in 1837, [[George Turnour]] discovered an important Sri Lankan manuscript ([[Dipavamsa]], or "Island Chronicle" ) associating Piyadasi with Ashoka:

{{blockquote|Two hundred and eighteen years after the beatitude of the [[Buddha]], was the inauguration of Piyadassi, .... who, the grandson of Chandragupta, and the son of Bindusara, was at the time Governor of [[Ujain|Ujjayani]].|[[Dipavamsa]].{{sfn|Allen|2012|p=79}}}}

[[File:Rock_edict-_closer_look.JPG|thumb|The [[Minor Rock Edict]] of [[Maski]] mentions the author as "Devanampriya Asoka", definitively linking both names, and confirming Ashoka as the author of the famous [[Edicts of Ashoka|Edicts]].]]
Since then, the association of "Devanampriya Priyadarsin" with Ashoka was confirmed through various inscriptions, and especially confirmed in the [[Minor Rock Edict]] inscription discovered in [[Maski]], directly associating Ashoka with his regnal title Devanampriya ("Beloved-of-the-Gods"):<ref name=CSH>{{cite book |title=The Cambridge Shorter History of India |publisher=CUP Archive |page=42 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9_48AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA42 |language=en |access-date=13 July 2018 |archive-date=25 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191225190721/https://books.google.com/books?id=9_48AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA42 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Gupta |first1=Subhadra Sen |title=Ashoka |date=2009 |publisher=Penguin UK |isbn=9788184758078 |page=13 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L5ru08et_ZAC&pg=PT13 |language=en |access-date=13 July 2018 |archive-date=31 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231152002/https://books.google.com/books?id=L5ru08et_ZAC&pg=PT13 |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{poemquote|
[A proclamation] of Devanampriya Asoka.
Two and a half years [and somewhat more] (have passed) since I am a [[Buddha]]-[[Shakya|Sakya]].
[A year and] somewhat more (has passed) [since] I have visited the [[Samgha]] and have shown zeal.
Those gods who formerly had been unmingled (with men) in [[Jambudvipa]], have how become mingled (with them).
This object can be reached even by a lowly (person) who is devoted to morality.
One must not think thus, – (viz.) that only an exalted (person) may reach this.
Both the lowly and the exalted must be told : "If you act thus, this matter (will be) prosperous and of long duration, and will thus progress to one and a half.{{sfn|Hultzsch|1925|p=[https://archive.org/stream/InscriptionsOfAsoka.NewEditionByE.Hultzsch/HultzschCorpusAsokaSearchable#page/n353 174–175]}}|[[Maski]] [[Minor Rock Edict]] of Ashoka.
}}

Another important historian was British [[archaeologist]] [[John Hubert Marshall]], who was director-General of the [[Archaeological Survey of India]]. His main interests were [[Sanchi]] and [[Sarnath]], in addition to [[Harappa]] and [[Mohenjo-daro|Mohenjodaro]]. Sir [[Alexander Cunningham]], a British archaeologist and army engineer, and often known as the father of the [[Archaeological Survey of India]], unveiled heritage sites like the [[Bharhut]] Stupa, Sarnath, Sanchi, and the Mahabodhi Temple. [[Mortimer Wheeler]], a British archaeologist, also exposed Ashokan historical sources, especially the [[Taxila]].{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}