Post by Gay Titan on Mar 19, 2008 14:07:25 GMT
Islamabad (PTI): Pakistani archaeologists have found a rare 2,000-year-old Buddha sculpture in red sandstone in the historical town of Taxila.
The 13 by 12 cm statue, featuring Buddha sitting cross-legged on a throne supported by two lions, is believed to be a 2nd century AD marvel.
"It's the discovery of the century -- a rare 2nd century AD sculpture of Lord Buddha made in red sandstone," Muhammad Ashraf Khan, Director for Exploration and Excavation in the Department of Archaeology and Museums, told reporters shortly after the discovery.
The statue was found during excavations at the site of a Buddhist monastery, located about 10 km north of the Taxila Museum, that existed between the 2nd and 5th century AD.
Under the soles of the Buddha figure are Dharmachakras (wheels of law). His right hand is raised in the 'Abhyamudra' or reassurance gesture with 'Dharmara Mudra' on the palm and a peepal tree behind him, the Dawn newspaper reported today.
The full grown peepal tree in the sculpture denotes the enlightenment of the Buddha. There are also two lions engraved on the pedestal and two figures on both sides of the statue.
The smiling Buddha, with long ears, hair arranged like a spiral shell and clad in 'Ekanshika Sanghati' or monastic drapery, is believed to be a Mathura-style sculpture and not an example of Gandhara art.
"It was brought by monks travelling from Mathura as a gift for the monastery here at Badalpur. It's unique in the Gandhara region that stretches from Jalalabad in Afghanistan to Taxila," Khan said.
The 13 by 12 cm statue, featuring Buddha sitting cross-legged on a throne supported by two lions, is believed to be a 2nd century AD marvel.
"It's the discovery of the century -- a rare 2nd century AD sculpture of Lord Buddha made in red sandstone," Muhammad Ashraf Khan, Director for Exploration and Excavation in the Department of Archaeology and Museums, told reporters shortly after the discovery.
The statue was found during excavations at the site of a Buddhist monastery, located about 10 km north of the Taxila Museum, that existed between the 2nd and 5th century AD.
Under the soles of the Buddha figure are Dharmachakras (wheels of law). His right hand is raised in the 'Abhyamudra' or reassurance gesture with 'Dharmara Mudra' on the palm and a peepal tree behind him, the Dawn newspaper reported today.
The full grown peepal tree in the sculpture denotes the enlightenment of the Buddha. There are also two lions engraved on the pedestal and two figures on both sides of the statue.
The smiling Buddha, with long ears, hair arranged like a spiral shell and clad in 'Ekanshika Sanghati' or monastic drapery, is believed to be a Mathura-style sculpture and not an example of Gandhara art.
"It was brought by monks travelling from Mathura as a gift for the monastery here at Badalpur. It's unique in the Gandhara region that stretches from Jalalabad in Afghanistan to Taxila," Khan said.
