An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c17.s8.5
An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c17.s8.5
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v1.c17.s8.5
The reliquaries, with or without relic chambers, were placed usually at the centre of the *stūpas*. However there are instances where they have been found away from the centre; this device was probably to forestall attempts at the removal of the relics. Thus in the Mahācaitya of NAGARJUNAKONDA the casket was found within one of the outermost compartments. In Stūpa 9 of the same place the casket was found at the junction of the outer rim and the *āyaka* platform. Five crystal relic caskets were found in the slots of two stones within the core of the s. *āyaka* of the Mahā-caitya at AMARAVATI (*IAR 1957-8*, p. 11. *1958-9*, p. 5). In the *stūpas* the reliquaries have been recovered from different depths, the lowest being below the structure of the *stūpa* itself.