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1311

Artifact / Relic associated with Buddha

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:1,000,000.00 USD Estimated At:5,000,000.00 - 6,000,000.00 USD
Artifact / Relic associated with Buddha
This relic container was excavated from Asia, Northern India, The container has a bulbous shape which is completely hand carved, chisel marks are visible under closer examination. The lid of the reliquary is decorated with carved design of lotus petals and the outer surface is decorated with a thin band of incised circular designs around most of the outer rim and bottom. In the middle there is a very unique intricately carved artwork and Brahmi inscriptions chiseled across the outer face dating back to the 1st millennium BCE. The Brahmi script is one of the most important writing systems in the world by virtue of its time depth and influence. It represents the earliest post-Indus corpus of texts, and some of the earliest historical inscriptions found in India. It is one of the oldest writing systems used in ancient India and present South and Central Asia. The third lines of the Brahmi script depicts the bowl is part of Buddha Na Bu Th Da Ma Ha Na Ja Ya Bu Dha Da Ma Ha Na According to Mahaparinibbana Sutta, after his death, the Gautama Buddha was cremated and the ashes divided among his followers. It was customary from the time of the Buddha’s death to preserve and venerate his relics. Under the great Mauryan emperor Asoka (circa 268-233 BC), a convert to Buddhism and an energetic patron of the faith, a series of stupas, relic mounds, were erected across the empire, marking sites of significance in the Buddha’s life. This practice continued, and this relic container is believed to have been interned around 200 BC. Relic deposits of this period usually represented re-deposits of original Buddha corporal relics. By decoding the script and the art incised on this reliquary, This is much more older than any reliquary’s ever excavated until today. The artworks on the reliquary represents “Stupas” the famous Buddhist sacral buildings, places of pilgrimage and the high reverence in the Buddhist world since the ancient times. After Buddha passed away into parinirvana his remains were cremated and ashes divided and buried under eight stupas. These eight stupas are intricately carved on this magnificent reliquary, which is first and ever found in the history of Relics associated with Buddha. The 'Great Stupa' at Sanchi, which is the location of several Buddhist monuments dating from the 3rd century BCE. It is one of the important places of Buddhist pilgrimage in India. The Great Stupa was originally commissioned by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka the Great in the third century BCE India. Its nucleus was a simple hemispherical brick structure built over the relics of the Buddha. It was crowned by the chatra, a parasol-like structure symbolising high rank, which was intended to honour and shelter the relics. For your reference: Asoka's edict at Girnar, inscribed in the Brahmi script. Circa: 2nd-3rd Century BC Culture: Buddhist Art (Maurya Empire) Provenance: Asia, India, (Unearthed). Material: Stone (Steatite/ Sandstone) Type: Stoneware Vessel / Urn / Reliquary Technique: Carved Dimensions: 154 mm. x 71 mm. x 8 mm. (Without Lid) 154 mm. x 126 mm. x 8 mm. (With Lid) Inscription Script: Brahmi Inscription Position: Across Outer Face Inscription Language: Prakrit Nº of Script: 49 Artwork: Yes (Eight Stupa's Lotus)
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