Location and Background
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Ramgram Stupa is located in Parasi District, Nepal, about 23 km from the Indian border.
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It is mentioned in important Buddhist literature such as:
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Samantapāsādikā (Vinaya Commentary)
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Travel records of Faxian (Fa-Hien, 5th c. CE)
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Travel accounts of Xuanzang (Hiuen-Tsang, 7th c. CE)
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The stupa also appears in artistic depictions and inscriptions at major Buddhist sites such as Bharhut, Sanchi, Amarāvatī, Nagarjunakoṇḍa, and Sarnath.
Archaeological Evidence
At Amarāvatī Stupa (Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh), British archaeologist Sir Walter Elliot excavated the site in 1859 CE (B.E. 2402), uncovering a massive stupa and numerous relics.
One important find was a white marble slab carving depicting:
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An elephant king offering flowers at the stupa
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A Nāga (serpent deity) coiling around the stupa
This panel is understood as representing Ramgram Stupa.
The Inscription
At the base of this Amarāvatī panel, an inscription in Prakrit language and Brāhmī script (c. 3rd–5th century CE, per Alexander Cunningham) reads:
𑀣𑁂𑀭𑀲𑀘𑁂𑀢𑀺𑀬𑀯𑀤𑀓𑀲𑀪𑀓𑀬𑀢𑀩𑀼𑀥𑀺𑀦𑁄𑀪𑀕𑀺𑀦𑀺𑀬𑀪𑀺𑀔𑀼𑀦𑀺𑀬𑀸𑀩𑀼𑀥𑀸𑀬𑀘𑀤𑀸𑀦𑀤𑁂𑀬𑀤𑀫𑀲𑀻𑀳𑀣𑀦
Transliteration (simplified):
Therasa Cetiya-vadakasa bhagavato Buddhi-bhaginiya bhikkhuniya Buddhāya ca dāna-deyadhammam sīhasthāna
Translation:
“The pious gift of this lion-throne was made by Elder (Thera) Buddhi, the one who extended the base of the stupa, together with his younger sister, the bhikkhunī (nun) Buddha.”
Significance
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Religious Heritage
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Ramgram Stupa is unique in tradition: it is believed to contain one of the original eight relic shares of the Buddha, and according to texts, it was never opened or distributed further because it was protected by Nāgas.
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Its depiction at Amarāvatī and elsewhere confirms its centrality in Buddhist sacred geography.
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Donors and Monastic Life
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The inscription preserves the names of two important religious figures:
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Thera Buddhi (a senior monk)
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Bhikkhunī Buddha (his younger sister, a Buddhist nun)
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This is a rare example where both male and female monastics are jointly credited as patrons in a stupa-related inscription.
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Preservation
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The Amarāvatī slab with this depiction and inscription is now housed in the British Museum, London.
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Conclusion
The Ramgram Stupa, through both textual tradition and archaeological evidence, emerges as one of the most important monuments in early Buddhism. Its artistic representation at Amarāvatī and the associated inscription not only connect it to the wider Buddhist world but also immortalize the devotion of Thera Buddhi and Bhikkhunī Buddha, whose joint offering still inspires reverence today.
🙏 Respect and homage to Thera Buddhi and Bhikkhunī Buddha, whose gift continues to guide later generations in understanding the sacred Buddhist past.
