The Maurya period is remarkable in the early history of the Indian subcontinent. Chandragupta Maurya was the first ruler who tried to consolidate small fragmented kingdoms and combined them to form the first empire of the Indian subcontinent.
The Sixth Pillar Edict of Asohka talks about welfare of people. The Ashokan pillars contain motifs which have a rich and varied symbolism in resonance with many prevailing Indian religious traditions.
Ashoka was a patron of Buddhism therefore he used many symbols that are relevant in Buddhism as motifs in the Ashokan pillar. According to Buddhist tradition, Buddha entered his mother’s womb in the form of a white elephant.