Emperor Ashoka Erecting His Pillars Coloring Pages

Ashoka ruled the Mauryan Empire from approximately 268 to 232 BCE, over 2,000 years ago. He lived during ancient India's golden age and controlled one of the largest empires in Indian history, stretching across most of the Indian subcontinent.

After converting to Buddhism following the bloody Kalinga War, Ashoka erected pillars to spread his edicts promoting peace, religious tolerance, and moral governance. These stone monuments served as ancient newspapers, communicating his new philosophy of non-violence to his vast empire.

Ashoka's pillars are massive stone columns, often 40-50 feet tall, topped with beautifully carved animal capitals featuring lions, elephants, bulls, or horses. The famous Lion Capital from Sarnath, with four lions standing back-to-back, became India's national emblem.

Archaeologists have discovered about 33 of Ashoka's original pillars, though he likely erected many more. Ten complete pillars with their capitals survive, scattered across India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh, making them precious historical treasures.

The brutal Kalinga War around 261 BCE horrified Ashoka when he saw the massive death and suffering it caused. This experience led to his conversion to Buddhism and his transformation into a ruler focused on peace, compassion, and moral governance.

Ashoka's edicts were carved in local languages including Prakrit, Greek, and Aramaic, showing his respect for different cultures. Most used the Brahmi script, which helped scholars later decipher this ancient Indian writing system and unlock India's early history.