An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c17.s8.18

v1.c17.s8.18

Some of the *stūpas* of NAGARJUNAKONDA yielded relics (Longhurst, 1938). Out of these relics the fragment of bone found within the Mahā-caitya (Stūpa 1) is alone believed to have been of Buddha. It was placed in a small globular gold reliquary, the latter with a few gold flowers, pearls, garnets and crystals kept inside a silver *stūpa*-shaped casket; the silver casket in its turn with three large crystal beads and an ear stud was deposited in an earthen pot. Stūpa 2 yielded two *stūpa*-shaped caskets, one of gold and another of silver, dome-shaped miniature *stūpas* in amethyst and turquoise, beads of pearl, bone, coral and lapis lazuli and gold-leaf flowers. A tiny bone relic was found within a gold reliquary with a disc base, globular body and a conical member at the crown, which was inside a gold *stūpa*-shaped casket within Stūpa 31. The second casket, along with gold-leaf flowers, pearls and coral beads and the like; was in its turn within a silver casket with a globular body and a top handle; the silver casket was within an earthen pot. Stūpa 4 produced a gold *stūpa*-shaped reliquary which was within a silver *stūpa*-shaped reliquary, the latter containing gold-leaf flowers, a crystal pendant, pearls, coral beads and the like. The silver casket was within a globular earthen pot covered by a red earthen saucer on the top of which was a food bowl. Apart from this deposit, evidently meant for the ashes of a distinguished teacher, there were 12 earthen pots covered with inverted food bowls and six begging bowls within other chambers of the *stūpa*; the pots contained bone ash, presumably of monks. Within Stūpa 5 were found, apart from earthenware pots containing ashes and bowls, pieces of semiprecious stone, pearls, corals and beads of semiprecious stones. Stūpa 6 yielded a gold reliquary with a flat base, convex profile and knobbed top inside a crushed silver casket with a globular body and knobbed top; the relics include a bone piece found within the gold reliquary and other objects like gold-leaf flowers, two gold medallions, coral beads and pearls. Stūpa 8 produced five *stūpa*-shaped relic caskets, found one within the other, the outermost of stone, the next of glazed earthenware, the third of copper, the fourth of silver and the innermost of gold. The relics found within the gold reliquary included a bone piece, gold flowers, pearls and coral beads. Stūpa 8 A yielded a gold reliquary with a low cylindrical body and hemispherical member on the top, containing bone ash and three pearls; the reliquary was within a *stūpa*-shaped silver casket which also contained gold flowers, pearls and beads. Within Stūpa 9 was found an earthen pot containing a silver casket with a flat base, a globular body and a knobbed top, beads, a crystal hemispherical object and a blue stone piece. Inside the silver casket was a gold reliquary with a button-base, convex body and a hemispherical knob at the top.