A class of officers instituted by the Indian emperor Ashoka during his reign in the third century BCE whose chief role included propagating and implementing Dhamma, a set of edicts that comprised Ashoka’s governance policies. They also often served as diplomatic emissaries to neighbouring empires. References to these officers are found on pillar edicts and rock edicts dated to Ashoka’s reign.
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Institutions & Collectives | Politics & Administration | Premodern Culture | All Afghanistan | All Bangladesh | All India | All Nepal | All Pakistan | Ancient (300 BCE–600 CE)
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ChicagoImpart Encyclopedia of Art. "Dhamma Mahamatta." Last updated February 17, 2026. https://imp-art.org/definitions/dhamma-mahamatta/.
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MLA"Dhamma Mahamatta." Impart Encyclopedia of Art, Feb. 17, 2026, https://imp-art.org/definitions/dhamma-mahamatta/.
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HarvardImpart Encyclopedia of Art (2026) Dhamma Mahamatta. Available at: https://imp-art.org/definitions/dhamma-mahamatta/ (Accessed: 3 March 2026).
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