An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c17.s3.4

v1.c17.s3.4

*12.3.3 Foundation tablets.* A carved brick tablet depicting an eight-petalled lotus with semiprecious stones on it was found fixed centrally at the bottom of a brick *kuṇḍa* in a temple complex at CHANDRAKETUGARH. It is perhaps associated with the foundation ritual of the *kuṇḍa*. More definite evidence of a foundation ritual in the form of a central tablet or brick with lotus surrounded by eight bricks engraved with various *āyudhas* associated with *dik-pālas* has been found in the early medieval shrines at Sagarhawa in the Nepalese *tarai* (Mitra, 1972, pp. 231-48). Here has also been found below the central tablet *nidhi-kalaśas* along with pieces of gold, precious stones and figures of snake and tortoise in some cases. The whole assemblage of these objects tallies with the details of the foundation ceremony of temples as prescribed in the *Vāstu* texts.