Culture, History, Mythology, Places, Religions

The Lalitgiri Relic Discovery: What were These 2000-Year-Old Caskets Protecting?

A casket within a casket… within another. Buried beneath centuries of earth at Lalitgiri, archaeologists uncovered a remarkable series of nested caskets in 1985. At their center lay a tiny gold reliquary containing relics believed to be those of the Buddha himself! It is one of the most significant Buddhist discoveries in India.

Image attributions

1.Greco-Buddhist Sculpture

Tokyo National Museum, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gandhara_Buddha_(tnm).jpeg

2.Death of the Buddha

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Death_of_the_Buddha_BM.jpg

3.The Kanishka casket

Anthony Huan, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kanishka_casket,_Asia,_G33_South_Asia.jpg

4.The Piprahwa casket

Smith, Vincent Arthur, 1848-1920; Edwardes, S. M. (Stephen Meredyth), 1873-1927, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Piprawa_vase_with_relics_of_the_Buddha.jpg

5.Emperor Ashoka and his Queen

Biswarup Ganguly, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Emperor_Ashoka_and_his_Queen_at_the_Deer_Park.jpg

6.Sanchi Stupa, Madhya Pradesh

Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stupa_1,_Sanchi_02.jpg

7.Dhamekh Stupa, Uttar Pradesh

https://www.flickr.com/photos/soylentgreen23/, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dhamekh_Stupa,_Sarnath,_originally_built_by_Ashoka_in_249_BC.jpg

8.Nalanda Mahavihara

Kdas1977, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nalanda_Mahavihara_UNESCO_WHS.jpg

9.Buddha Head, Ratnagiri

By G41rn8 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44430520

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ratnagiri_ei3-61.jpg

10.Buddha in Udayagiri

Amara Bharathy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Main_Buddha_in_Udayagiri_monasteries_complex.jpg

11.Chinese Monk Xuanzang

Tokyo National Museum, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Xuanzang_w.jpg

12.Xuanzang Statue

Charlie, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Xuan_Zang_Statue.jpg

13.Xuanzang’ writings

Southern Song (1132 CE) scribeTranscription: पाटलिपुत्र, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Xuanzang_about_Mihirakula_(introductory_part).jpg

14.Pushpagiri, Odisha

Ashishkumarnayak, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pushpagiri_(Langudi_Hill)_-_Jajpur_-_Odisha_-_Buddhist_site_-_Ancient_Stupa.jpg

15.Pushpagiri Vihara, Odisha

Ashishkumarnayak, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pushpagiri_(Langudi_Hill)_-_Jajpur_-_Odisha_-_Buddhist_site_-_Rock-Cut_Stupas.JPG

Tags: Buddha, Buddhism, Buddhism in India, Lalitgiri, Relics, Stone caskets

Lakshmi Vilas Palace

He pioneered the Indo-Saracenic style or architecture and built grand landmarks across India. And yet, he did not trust his own designs and never saw his finest creation completed. This is the story of Maj. Charles Mant and his masterpiece - the Lakshmi Vilas Palace at Vadodara, the world’s largest private residence.

Culture, History, Mythology, Places, Religions

Why the Original Sanchi Stupa Had No Images of Buddha | Sanchi

Did you know the first human images of the Buddha appeared nearly 500 years after his death? Before that, artists used symbols to represent him. You can see many such symbols at the Sanchi Stupa.

History, Places, Religions

Mackenzie: The Man Who Found Amaravati

Buddhism, during its golden age, inspired several unique contributions to art and architecture in India. But by the 13th century, there was almost no trace of the religion left in the country, and many of the creations inspired by Buddhism too had vanished, buried deep under layers of earth, where they lay forgotten for centuries…. Until one man named Colin Mackenzie made a spectacular discovery - the relics of Amaravati.

History, Places, Religions

The Satavahanas and India’s Ancient Tollgates

The Ajanta Cave paintings in Maharashtra date back to the 1st century BCE. These caves and their paintings were created not long after Buddha’s death under the patronage of a dynasty called the Satavahanas, a dynasty that ruled for over three centuries and greatly influenced Indian art. Who were they and what made them so successful? Historians are still figuring out the answer to that question. But a 2200-year-old pot that can be seen in Naneghat pass in Maharashtra’s Western Ghats holds a clue.

History, Places, Religions

Ancient stone caskets that stored Buddha’s relics | Sanchi Stupa, India

Buddha died around 483 BCE. His remains were stored in 8 stone caskets. Emperor Ashoka had an idea – a vision to spread Buddhism through these relics. How did he do it? This story explores the journey of Buddha’s cremated remains from nearly 2500 years ago to locations that have become important Buddhist pilgrimage sites, one of which is the Sanchi Stupa.