An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c17.s8.12

v1.c17.s8.12

The nucleus, attributed to Aśoka, of the main *stūpa* at SANCHI did not yield any relics but in the relic chamber of Stūpa 3 (2nd century B.C.) were found two stone boxes inscribed with the names of Sāriputra and Mahā-Mogalāna, the two foremost disciples of Buddha (Cunningham, 1854). Sāriputra's box contained a white steatite relic casket, 15·2 cm broad and 7·6 cm high, covered by a thin earthen saucer of lustrous black ware [NBPW, 11.16?], along with two pieces of sandalwood. Inside the casket were found a small fragment of bone and seven beads, variously of pearl, garnet, lapis lazuli, crystal and amethyst. The relic casket has a ring base, cylindrical body with mouldings and a conical crown. In Maudgalyāyana's box there was another steatite relic casket, somewhat smaller in size, containing two fragments of bone. This casket has curved sides. Within the relic chamber of Stūpa 2 (2nd century B C ) was found an inscribed sandstone box containing four steatite relic caskets bearing pieces of burnt bone. These caskets, circular on plan, have a flat base, curved exterior sides and a conical member at the top. Each of these reliquaries is inscribed with the names of the respective persons whose bones were deposited within. There are altogether ten names—Kāsanagota, Majhima, Hāritīputa, Vachīya-Suvijayata, Mahavanāya, Āpagira, Kodinīputa, Kosikīputa, Gotīputa and Mogalīputa. Thus this *stūpa* entombed the corporeal relics of at least three generations of teachers, of whom two were contemporaries of Aśoka.