Casing Slab (Period IV)

     It shows a serpent-guarded stupa depicting the story of the Ramagrama stupa.

     One of the eight portions of the Buddha's remains was brought to Ramagrama and a stupa was raised over it. This stupa was by the side of a lake which was the abode of a Naga who was really a deva cursed to his present state of existence which was the result of evil deeds of former days. When Ashoka came to open this stupa for the redistribution of the relics, the Naga objected to it and revealed his story to the king. Though Ashoka had broken open the other seven original stupas, he left this stupa alone untouched for fear of offending the Naga.

     The drum of the stupa is encircled by three five-headed serpents. The coils are beautifully knotted. Above the harmika is a cluster of umbrellas. There is a Naga couple on either side of the stupa, the Naginis are kneeling. One of the Nagarajas wears a sacred thread and udarabandha and holds a bunch of flowers from which a bee sucks honey. The Nagaraja should belong to a much later period than the other figures. Two Nagarajas fly above.

Relic Casket Made of Red Sand Stone (Period III)

  The actual Relic Casket with red vermillion was used in about 150 AD.

Casing Slab, broken (Period IV)

     The sculpture represents the story of Sujata feeding the Bodhisattva.

     Sujata was the daugther of Senani, a rich man of Uruvela. She promised rich offerings to a Nigrodha tree, if her wishes were realized. Things happened as she prayed for. She accordingly made preperations to fulfil her promise. When the Bodhisattva went to Uruvela forest and sat under the Bodhi tree the surrounding place was illuminated. Having heard of this, Sujata went to him and offered him the specially prepared porridge, which he accepted.

     In the sculpture, the Bodhisattva is seated on a throne and Sujata is seen with a jug in her hand. Behind her is a man carrying the vessel containing the rice porridge. Sujata's son is also seen here.