ASI discovers two 1200-year-old miniature stupas at Nalanda

Tags: National News

The Patna Circle of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has discovered two 1200-year-old miniature stupas during landscaping activities near the Sarai Tila mound within the complex of the world heritage site 'Nalanda Mahavihara' in Nalanda district of the state.

An overview of the news

• The figures of Buddha are shown on the stupa carved out of stone.

• These stupas carved out of stone depicting figures of Buddha are about 1200 years old.

• Such stupas were popular as votive offerings in India as early as the 7th century.

About the Stupas?

• The stupa is a hemispherical structure symbolising the burial mound of the Buddha.

• It rose to prominence after the advent of Buddhism and reached its peak during the reign of Ashoka.

• Stupas evolved from chortens in Tibet and pagodas in East Asia.

Nalanda Mahavihara site complex

• Nalanda was a Mahavihara, a large Buddhist monastery in the ancient kingdom of Magadha (modern Bihar) in India.

• It is considered by historians to be the world's first residential university and one of the largest centres of learning in the ancient world.

• It was established during the Gupta Empire period.