Abstract:
This paper aims at reporting a unique portable votive plaques and clay tablets discovered
from different Buddhist period (Sites of Sindh, Pakistan.)
1. Kahu-Jo-Daro (Mirpurkhas)
2. Gul Mohammad Jamro (Ranipur)
3. Thul Mir Rukun (Daulatpur)
4. Khijrani (Umer Kot)
5. Koriani (Badin)
6. Siraj-ji-Takri (Khairpur)
These plaques made up of baked clay, in different sizes, and shapes like oval, square, small,
large, thin, thick inscribed and carved. It can be classified in different groups; according to
their sizes and shapes. According to their patterns, some are exhibiting Buddha’s figure in
different Asana, some with inscribed written Buddha’s creed, some with stupa impressions
and hundred stupas. The Buddha is in Bhumispersamudra. The enlightened one must be
understood as sitting inside the Mahabodhi temple at Bodhgaya, and the stupas surrounding
him are meant to be inside the temple compound.
“The second type of plaque represents a series of bell-shaped stupas (understood as being
grouped round the main stupa) and is inscribed as the bottom with the Buddhist creed.”
From Sindh, these plaques found and documented by Bhandarkhar (1914-15) and Cousens
(1929). Few tablet donated by Givannino Verardi (1975). The total No of 33 votive plaques
display in Archaeology and Anthropology Museum. Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur,
Sindh, Pakistan. Except a few, most of them are damaged and broken into small pieces.
The site Kahu-Jo-Daro, Mirpur Khas yielded hundreds of sun dried votive clay tablets almost
identical with those discovered from Nalanda and Sarnath in Eastern India. These
votive tablets were used by devotees who came on pilgrimage as offerings. These types of
votive plaques/inscribed clay tablets have been discovered in different parts of Pakistan,
Afghanistan and India.
