51-52.Reliquary
- 1st century BCE
- Vidisha region, Madhya Pradesh
- Victoria and Albert Museum, London
The exceptionally large lathe-turned stone reliquary seen here was discovered within the brick core of the Sonari Stūpa during an excavation in 1851. Within the object were four reliquaries, including the smaller stone example on view here, inscribed with the name of Majhima, an esteemed third-century BCE monastic. Interring the remains of revered lineage teachers was a widespread practice soon after the Buddha's death in about 400 BCE.
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