Ashoka’s statue found near Gulbarga

M. Malleswara Rao

HYDERABAD: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), during excavations at Sannithi near Gulbarga, stumbled upon a 5-foot high statue of Emperor Ashoka made out of soft stone in grey colour.

Raya Ashoka

At the foot of the statue, Ashoka’s name was found inscribed as “Raya Ashoka” in Brahmi script in Prakrut.

According to D. Jithedra Das, Superintending Archaeologist, Hyderabad Circle, the statue is the only source available anywhere in the world to give an idea of how Ashoka looked like.

Frescos

Images of Ashoka are claimed to have been found at Sanchi and Sarnath, but they are one or two inches in size on frescos depicted as part of Jataka and Buddha stories on the structures of Stupas.

Buried deep

The Archaeological Survey of India has been undertaking excavations at Sannithi for over 10 years now. A Buddhist stupa was found buried deep here.

The Ashoka statue unearthed was found in two pieces.

They have since been cemented and preserved.