Reliquary thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Not currently on display at the V&A
On short term loan out for exhibition

Reliquary

ca. 200 BC (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

A relic casket excavated in Stupa No 2 at Sonari, 6 miles south-west of Sanchi in 1851 by Alexander Cunningham and F.C. Maisey. The casket, of lathe-turned steatite, has a globular body in two parts on a circular disc foot surmounted by a four-tiered knob, perhaps intended to suggest a four-tiered honorific umbrella (chattra). It was found to contain one piece of calcined bone. Incised on the upper part of the casket, in early Brahmi characters, is the following Prakrit inscription: 'Sapurisasa Majhimasa Kodiniputasa', ie, the relics of the worthy Majhimasa Kodiniputa. It may be presumed that the bone fragment found inside belonged to this much revered teacher. Another portion of his calcined bone is recorded by inscription to have been interned in a relic casket at Stupa No 2 at Sanchi. He is known to have travelled as a missionary to the central Himalayan region with four other monks after the third Buddhist Council held at Pataliputra (Patna) in the 18th year of the reign of the Emperor Asoka (273-232 BCE). The date of his death is not recorded.

This and other relic finds of the period demonstrate that the interning of relics in containers and placing them in stupas was a widespread practice in the late Mauryan period. These were not confined to “original” Buddha relics but also included the corporal remains of revered followers of the Buddha.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Lathe-turned steatite
Brief description
Reliquary from Stupa No 2, Sonari, central India, steatite, ca. 200 BC
Physical description
The casket, of lathe-turned mottled steatite, has a globular body on circular disc foot surmounted by a four-tiered knob, perhaps intended to suggest a four-tiered honorific umbrella (chattra). It was found to contain one piece of calcined bone. Incised on the upper part of the casket, in early Brahmi characters, is the following Pali inscription: 'Sapurisasa Majhimasa Kodiniputasa', ie, [the relics] of the Emancipated Majhimasa.
Dimensions
  • Height: 6.8cm
  • Diameter: 5.4cm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
Gallery label
  • 1-3. Buddhist Reliquaries Buddhists deposited the remains of venerated teachers in reliquaries and then enshrined them in large hemispherical mounds called stupas. These reliquaries were all excavated in 1851 from stupas near Sanchi, one of the most important early Buddhist sites in India. The large container (1) held beads and five smaller reliquaries (including 2). The crystal reliquary (3) contained minute bone fragments. Its shape, including the umbrella finial, resembles that of a full-size stupa. Central India All found near Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh From the collection of General F.C. Maisey 1. Probably before 100 BC Steatite From Sonari stupa no. 2 Museum no. IM.219-1921 2. Probably 1-100 BC Steatite From Sonari stupa no. 2 Inscribed in Brahmi as having held the relics of Majhima Kodiniputa, a Buddhist missionary to the Himalayas Museum no. IM.221-1921 3. 1-100 BC Rock crystal From Bhojpur stupa no. 2 Museum no. IM.223-1921 (14/06/2014)
  • 2.Probably 1–100 BC Steatite From Sonari stupa no.2 Inscribed in Brahmi as having held the relics of Majhima Kodiniputa, a Buddhist missionary to the Himalayas Museum no.IM.221-1921 (06/06/2011)
Object history
It may be presumed that the bone fragment found inside this reliquary belonged to Majhimasa, the much revered teacher alluded to in the inscription. Another portion of his calcined bone is recorded by inscription to have been interned in a relic casket at Stupa No 2 at Sanchi. He is known to have travelled as a missionary to the central Himalayan region with four other monks after the third Buddhist Council held at Pataliputra (Patna) in the 18th year of the reign of the Emperor Asoka (273-232 BCE). The date of his death is not recorded.

This and other relic finds of the period demonstrate that the interning of relics in containers and placing them in stupas was a widespread practice in the late Mauryan period. These were not confined to “original” Buddha relics but also included the corporal remains of revered followers of the Buddha.

The fragment of bone was handed over to Profesor M.S. Sundaram, representing the government fo India on 18th June 1958

Historical context
Relic casket of mottled steatite, turned on the lathe, containing one piece of calcined bone. It was found inside the relic casket, Museum No. IM.219-1921 by General Cunningham and General Maisey about 1851, in the Stupa No 2 at Sonari, 6 miles SW of Sanchi, Bhopal State, Central India. The casket may date from about the year 200 BC and the stupa may be a few years later.
Globular body on circular disc foot, surmounted by a four-tiered chattra or pinnacle. Incised on the upper part, in early Brahmi characters, is the following Pali inscription: 'Sapurisasa Majhimasa Kodiniputasa', ie, [the relics] of the Emancipated Majhima portion of whose calcinated bone were found in a relic casket from the Stupa No 2 at Sanchi. He went as a missionary to the Central Himalaya District with four other missionaries after the third Council held at Patna in the 18th year of the reign of the Emperor Asoka (273-232 BC), but the date of his death is not known.
Subject depicted
Summary
A relic casket excavated in Stupa No 2 at Sonari, 6 miles south-west of Sanchi in 1851 by Alexander Cunningham and F.C. Maisey. The casket, of lathe-turned steatite, has a globular body in two parts on a circular disc foot surmounted by a four-tiered knob, perhaps intended to suggest a four-tiered honorific umbrella (chattra). It was found to contain one piece of calcined bone. Incised on the upper part of the casket, in early Brahmi characters, is the following Prakrit inscription: 'Sapurisasa Majhimasa Kodiniputasa', ie, the relics of the worthy Majhimasa Kodiniputa. It may be presumed that the bone fragment found inside belonged to this much revered teacher. Another portion of his calcined bone is recorded by inscription to have been interned in a relic casket at Stupa No 2 at Sanchi. He is known to have travelled as a missionary to the central Himalayan region with four other monks after the third Buddhist Council held at Pataliputra (Patna) in the 18th year of the reign of the Emperor Asoka (273-232 BCE). The date of his death is not recorded.

This and other relic finds of the period demonstrate that the interning of relics in containers and placing them in stupas was a widespread practice in the late Mauryan period. These were not confined to “original” Buddha relics but also included the corporal remains of revered followers of the Buddha.
Bibliographic references
  • Willis, Michael, Buddhist Reliquaries from Ancient India, London, British Museum Press, 2000, p.86-87, No.16, fig. 95
  • Guy, John (ed.), La Escultura en los Templos Indios: El Arte de la Devoción, Barcelona, Fundación La Caixa, 2007, p.15, No.115 ,ISBN: 978-84-7664-9456-9
  • Willis, M. (ed.). India: the Art of the Temple. Shanghai Museum, 2010. 254p. ISBN 978-7-5479-0092-5. cat. 1.20, pp. 86-7.
  • Cunningham, Sir Alexander. The Bhilsa Topes; or Buddhist Monuments of Central India: comprising a brief historical sketch of the rise, progress and decline of Buddhism; with an account of the opening and examination of the various groups of topes around Bhilsa. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1854.pp. 315-319, Plate XXIV.
Collection
Accession number
IM.221-1921

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdFebruary 13, 2000
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest