An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c17.s8.15

v1.c17.s8.15

Within the relic chamber of Stūpa 2 at Bhojpur (Cunningham, 1854) was found a hemispherical earthen cover beneath which was a red earthen pot, with a convex base and tapering body, covered by a knobbed lid bearing traces of letters in ink. Inside it was a fine crystal *stūpa*-shaped reliquary containing minute pieces of bones. Within the earthen pot were also small pieces of bone, apart from four thin round bits of gold, one bead of garnet, one crystal bead, two beads of pale greenish crystal and fragments of pearl. Inside the relic chamber of Stūpa 4 of this place was encountered a black earthen box containing an earthen bowl covered by an earthen lid, on which was the letter *mu* in characters of the 2nd century B.C. Within the bowl was a small crystal relic casket with concave curvature at the sides and flat bottom and top. The relic chamber of Stūpa 7 yielded two earthen pots, one within a red earthen box, one inscribed with *Patito* and the other with *Upahitakasa* in characters of the 2nd century B.C., the pots have a flat base, convex body, sloping shoulder and concave neck. Inside the relic chamber of Stūpa 9 was found a large earthen vase with a projecting flat base, convex body and somewhat conical top; within the vase was a steatite casket, similar to the vase, but doubled (one above the other), containing an abundance of human bones. The relic chamber of Stūpa 10 yielded an earthen box and part of a second one; inside the box were a few small pieces of bone. Stūpa 11 produced a round earthen jar full of bits of bone. Stūpa 17 had two relic chambers containing fragments of earthen pots and bits of bone. Stūpa 23 yielded three jars of earthenware.