Why is it in the news?
→ India is exhibiting the Devnimori Relics of Lord Buddha in Sri Lanka as cultural diplomacy.
→ The relics originate from an important archaeological site in Gujarat.
Category
History
Important Points
- Devnimori archaeological site is near Shamlaji in the Aravalli district of Gujarat.
- It was first explored in 1957 by Prof. S. N. Chowdhry.
- Excavations revealed Buddhist structures showing flourishing Buddhism in western India.
- The relic casket was found in Devnimori Stupa at a height of 24 feet from the base.
- The casket is made of green schist.
- It is inscribed in Brahmi script and Sanskrit with “dashabala sharira nilay”.
- It contains a copper box with organic matter, holy ashes, silk cloth, and beads.
- The copper box had a slip-on lid and contained a gold-coated silver-copper bottle.
- The bottle had a cylindrical body with a narrow neck and screw-type lid.
- The relics are now housed in an air-tight glass desiccator.