ASI Discovers 2 1200-year-old Miniature Stupas

Patna circle of the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has discovered two 1200-year-old miniature votive stupas

Key Points

The stupas, carved from stone, depict Buddha figures.
These two votive stupas (offered in fulfilment of a vow) were discovered by the ASI officials during landscaping near Sarai Tila mound within the premises of ‘Nalanda Mahavihara
Beginning in the 7th century CE in India, small miniature terracotta stupas became popular as votive offerings.
Devout pilgrims visiting various holy sites and temples throughout Asia would either purchase small votive offerings or make their own.

Stupas

The Sanskrit term stupa refers to a heap. It began as a small semi-circular earthen mound known as Anda.
With the passage of time and the inclusion of artwork, it gradually evolved into a more sophisticated structure.
Stupas were constructed in sacred locations. These places were considered sacred because they were associated with Buddha’s life.
The art of writing flourished throughout Ashoka’s reign.

Details

Some Important stupas

Stupas	Location	Significance
Sanchi stupa	Madhya Pradesh	It was constructed in the 3rd century BCE by Ashoka. Since 1989, Sanchi Stupa has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sarnath , Dhamek stupa.	Uttar Pradesh	It was built in 500 CE to replace an earlier structure, together with numerous other monuments, commissioned by Ashoka in 249 BCE to commemorate the Buddha’s activities in this region.
Amaravati stupa	Andhra Pradesh	The Amravati Stupa, also known as the Great Stupa of Amravati, is a damaged Buddhist monument. It was probably built in phases between the third century BCE and about 250 CE.
Bharhut Stupa	Madhya Pradesh	The Sungas adapted the Bharhut stupa, which was originally erected by Asoka. Unlike the Mauryas’ imperial art, the reliefs and figures in Bharhut stupa were provided by laypeople, monks, and nuns, according to inscriptions on the railings.
Nagarjunakonda	Andhra Pradesh	Nagarjunakonda is an ancient town that is now an island at Nagarjuna Sagar, west of the Amaravati Stupa, another notable historic landmark.
Piprahwa	Uttar Pradesh	Piprahwa is most known for its archaeological site and excavations, which imply that it was the site of the Buddha’s ashes being handed to his own Sakya clan.
Soneri stupa	Madhya Pradesh	Sonari is the ancient monastic complex of Buddhist stupas’ archaeological site. Sonari, like Sanchi, is a Buddhist stupa complex with two major and five minor stupas.

Nalanda Mahavihara

The Nalanda Mahavihara site comprises the archaeological remains of a monastic and scholastic institution dating from the 3rd century BCE to the 13th century CE.
It includes stupas, shrines, viharas (residential and educational buildings) and important art works in stucco, stone and metal.
Nalanda stands out as the most ancient university of the Indian Subcontinent. It engaged in the organized transmission of knowledge over an uninterrupted period of 800 years
The archaeological remains of Nalanda Mahavihara were systematically unearthed and preserved simultaneously, these are the most significant parts of the property that demonstrate development in planning, architecture and artistic tradition of Nalanda.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Patna circle has sent a fresh report to its headquarters for the inclusion of ‘Raniwas Mound’, situated near the world-famous Buddhist site of ‘Kesariya stupa’ in Bihar’s East Champaran district, in the list of centrally protected monuments in the state. Similarly protection proposals of the Patna circle for two more sites – Ashokan inscription at Basahan in Kaimur district and mound in the Jangalistan area near the Vikramshila site in Bhagalpur – are also lying with the ASI headquarters for last several years.“Once the protection proposals of the Patna circle are accepted by the ASI headquarters, these ancient sites will be automatically included in the list of centrally protected monuments in the state. The ASI headquarters had sought certain clarification from us about the ‘Raniwas mound’. We submitted a detailed report seeking its inclusion in the list of protected monuments of the ASI in Bihar on November 30 this year”, Goutami Bhattacharya, Superintending Archaeologist (ASI, Patna circle) told PTI.