Devanampriya, also Devanampiya (Devanagari: देवनामप्रिय ) (Brahmi script: 𑀤𑁂𑀯𑀸𑀦𑀁𑀧𑀺𑀬, Devānaṃpiya), was a Pali honorific epithet used by a few Indian monarchs, but most particularly the 3rd Mauryan Emperor Ashoka The Great (r.269-233 BCE) in his inscriptions (the Edicts of Ashoka).[1] "Devanampriya" means "Beloved of the Gods". It is often used by Ashoka in conjunction with the title Priyadasi, which means "He who regards others with kindness", "Humane".[1]
However, this title was used by a number of Ceylonese kings from Uttiya to Yasalalakatissa from the 2nd century BC to the 1st century CE.[2]
The Kalsi version of the Major Rock Edict No.8 also uses the title "Devampriyas" to describe previous kings (whereas the other versions use the term "Kings"), suggesting that the title "Denampriya" had a rather wide usage and might just have meant "King".[3][4]
"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, and was at the time Governor of Ujjayani."
Since then, the association of "Devanampriya Priyadarsin" with Ashoka was reinforced through various inscriptions, and especially confirmed in the Minor Rock Edict inscription discovered in Maski, associating Ashoka with Devanampriya:[1][6]
[A proclamation] of Devanampriya Asoka. Two and a half years [and somewhat more] (have passed) since I am a Buddha-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.
^Beckwith, Christopher I. (2015). Greek Buddha: Pyrrho's Encounter with Early Buddhism in Central Asia. Princeton University Press. pp. 235–236. ISBN9781400866328.
^Inscriptions of Asoka. New Edition by E. Hultzsch (in Sanskrit). 1925. p. 37 Note 3.
^Allen, Charles (2012). Ashoka: The Search for India's Lost Emperor. Little, Brown Book Group. p. 79. ISBN9781408703885.
^Gupta, Subhadra Sen (2009). Ashoka. Penguin UK. p. 13. ISBN9788184758078.
^Inscriptions of Asoka. New Edition by E. Hultzsch (in Sanskrit). 1925. pp. 174–175.
November 28, 2023
devanampriya, also, devanampiya, devanagari, वन, मप, brahmi, script, 𑀤, 𑀯, 𑀦, 𑀧, 𑀬, devānaṃpiya, pali, honorific, epithet, used, indian, monarchs, most, particularly, mauryan, emperor, ashoka, great, inscriptions, edicts, ashoka, means, beloved, gods, often, u. Devanampriya also Devanampiya Devanagari द वन मप र य Brahmi script 𑀤 𑀯 𑀦 𑀧 𑀬 Devanaṃpiya was a Pali honorific epithet used by a few Indian monarchs but most particularly the 3rd Mauryan Emperor Ashoka The Great r 269 233 BCE in his inscriptions the Edicts of Ashoka 1 Devanampriya means Beloved of the Gods It is often used by Ashoka in conjunction with the title Priyadasi which means He who regards others with kindness Humane 1 Various Devanampiya Piyadasi inscriptions on the Pillars of Ashoka Devanaṃpiyasa Asoka honorific Devanampiya Brahmi script 𑀤 𑀯 𑀦 𑀧 𑀬𑀲𑀅𑀲 𑀓 Beloved of the God in the adjectival form sa and name of Ashoka in Brahmi script in the Maski Edict of Ashoka Devanampiyena 𑀤 𑀯 𑀦 𑀧 𑀬 𑀦 Of Devanampiya in the Lumbini Minor Pillar Edict of Ashoka Brahmi scriptHowever this title was used by a number of Ceylonese kings from Uttiya to Yasalalakatissa from the 2nd century BC to the 1st century CE 2 The Kalsi version of the Major Rock Edict No 8 also uses the title Devampriyas to describe previous kings whereas the other versions use the term Kings suggesting that the title Denampriya had a rather wide usage and might just have meant King 3 4 Prinsep in his study and decipherment of the Edicts of Ashoka had originally identified Devanampriya Priyadasi with the King of Ceylon Devanampiya Tissa of Anuradhapura However in 1837 George Turnour discovered Sri Lankan manuscripts Dipavamsa or Island Chronicle associating Piyadasi with Ashoka 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 and was at the time Governor of Ujjayani Dipavamsa 5 Since then the association of Devanampriya Priyadarsin with Ashoka was reinforced through various inscriptions and especially confirmed in the Minor Rock Edict inscription discovered in Maski associating Ashoka with Devanampriya 1 6 A proclamation of Devanampriya Asoka Two and a half years and somewhat more have passed since I am a Buddha 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 Maski inscription of Ashoka 7 Historical UsageDevanaṃpiya may refer to Devanampiya Tissa of Anuradhapura died 267 BCE ruler of Sri Lanka based at the ancient capital of Anuradhapura from 307 to 267 BC Ashoka ca 304 232 BCE Indian emperor of the Maurya Dynasty Dasharatha Maurya ca 232 to 224 BCE grandson of Ashoka in his Barabar caves inscriptions in the form Devanampiya Dasaratha Vaṉavar aṉpaṉ early Tamil for the One who is Loved by the Gods title of a Tamil Chera chieftain of early historic south IndiaReferences edit a b c The Cambridge Shorter History of India CUP Archive p 42 Nicholas C W 1949 The titles of Sinhalese kings University of Ceylon Review Pages 235 248 http dlib pdn ac lk bitstream 123456789 947 1 Mr Nicholas 2CC W pdf Beckwith Christopher I 2015 Greek Buddha Pyrrho s Encounter with Early Buddhism in Central Asia Princeton University Press pp 235 236 ISBN 9781400866328 Inscriptions of Asoka New Edition by E Hultzsch in Sanskrit 1925 p 37 Note 3 Allen Charles 2012 Ashoka The Search for India s Lost Emperor Little Brown Book Group p 79 ISBN 9781408703885 Gupta Subhadra Sen 2009 Ashoka Penguin UK p 13 ISBN 9788184758078 Inscriptions of Asoka New Edition by E Hultzsch in Sanskrit 1925 pp 174 175 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Devanampriya amp oldid 1186577595, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
