On the Term Anusamyana
By Ananta Kumar Bose
Summary
The term ‘anusamyāna’ appears in several of Emperor Aśoka’s rock edicts, yet it is absent from standard Sanskrit lexicons, leading to divergent interpretations. Early scholars like Senart translated it as ‘assembly,’ whereas Kern and Bühler rendered it as ‘tour’ or ‘inspection.’ In this note the author reviews these views and revisits the context of the word’s usage. He observes that Aśoka instructed yuktas (local governors), rājūkas (judicial officers) and prādeśikas (provincial administrators) to preach the dhamma during their five‑yearly visits to the anusamyāna. Examining the administrative structure of the Mauryan empire and contemporary inscriptions, the author suggests that anusamyāna referred to a periodic congregational site or circuit where officials met the populace, heard grievances, and disseminated royal policies. Such gatherings could take place along trade routes, pilgrimage centres and mining areas, explaining why edicts were often located in these places. By situating the term within Mauryan administration, he argues that it denotes more than a religious assembly or inspection tour; it was an institutionalised interface between state and society. The paper emphasises the importance of context when interpreting rare terms in epigraphic records.
Conclusion
The note concludes that ‘anusamyāna’ should be understood as a regular administrative and religious gathering where officials engaged with local communities. This interpretation reconciles previous scholarly disagreements and explains why Aśoka linked the term with moral exhortation. Recognising the function of such assemblies sheds light on Mauryan governance and the dissemination of dhamma.