Previous Year Question
In which of the following relief sculpture inscriptions is ‘Ranyo Ashoka’ (King Ashoka) mentioned along with the stone portrait of Ashoka?
Correct Answer: A
Detailed Solution
A sculptural panel found at Kanganahalli depicts King Ashoka together with an inscription identifying him by name. Kanganahalli is an important Buddhist site associated with the Sannati archaeological region in Karnataka. A relief from the stupa depicts a king with other figures and carries an inscription in Prakrit and Brahmi identifying the figure as Ashoka.
Uses the expression ‘Ranyo Ashoka’ in the question. Government documentation by IGNCA transcribes the inscription accompanying the Kanganahalli representation as “Raya Asoko” and explicitly identifies it as referring to King Ashoka. Thus, a slight difference in spelling/transliteration may be encountered, but both refer to the same inscriptional identification.
The relief should not be treated as a portrait produced during Ashoka's own Mauryan reign. Government documentation dates the representation to the second century CE, several centuries after Ashoka's death. Its significance lies in the fact that the depicted king is directly identified as Ashoka by an accompanying inscription.
Sanchi, Shahbazgarhi and Sohgaura are important ancient inscriptional/archaeological sites, but the inscribed relief identifying the portrait as Ashoka comes from Kanganahalli.