Fwd: Antiquities from 1st century AD discovered in Pakistan

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gandhara , Yashwant K <yashwant0k wrote:

 

 

Antiquities from 1st century AD discovered in Pakistan

By Shamim Akram - Pakistan Times Staff Reporter

 

TAXILA: A preservation and restoration team of the department of archaeology has

discovered as many as eight antiquities consisting fragments including the

sculpture of future Buddha, god Indra and his body guard belonging to first

century AD.

 

The antiquities have been discovered during the preservation work at the ancient

and world famous archaeological site of the Gandhara civilization locally known

at Dharmarajika stupa and monastery dated back to 3rd century BC to 5th Century

AD situated about 3.5 kilometers on North east of Taxila Museum.

 

Officials of the department of archaeology Sub regional Office Taxila have

confirmed that these antiquities includes landmark, precious and rare discovery

of a statue depicting " the re- appearance of Buddha " .

 

Buddhist Mythology

 

Buddhist mythology says, Buddha would be re-appear before the end of universe.

The newly discovered fragment is depicting the same scene.

 

Archaeologists are of the view that a being destined developed in to Buddha is

called Bodhisattva. Properly Bodhisattva simply means a sentient or reasonable

being.

 

Bodhisattvas like the Buddha are honored. As per Buddhist belief another Buddha

will come that is Maitreya, the future Buddha. At the specific time he will

leave Tushita heaven and come upon the earth to establish the lost truths in

their purity. He is the only Bodhisattva known to Hinayana and Mahayan sects of

Buddhism. It is said that a monk artist inhabitant of Swat valley visited

Tushita heaven, met with Bodhisattva Maitreya, came back and carved the image.

 

Another precious and exclusive discovery is the statue of god Indra. The Indra

god was the god of " nature " and according to the Buddhism mythology and Vedic

Pantheon the thunder god Indra had attained a prominent position.

 

Buddhist adopted in to their mythology numerous gods but modified their

characteristics and importance. At the time of the birth of Sidhartha ( Buddha)

he was present. He visited Indrasala cave and put some philosophical questions,

which the Buddha answered very easily, thus god Indra and Brahma entreated

Buddha to start preaching of the Buddhism. Another remarkable discovery is the

statue depicting the bodyguard of Buddha , which was named in Buddhism as

VajraPani.

 

Fragment of Corinthian

 

The fragment of Corinthian capital was also discovered. Corinthian order was

used in Magna, Garcia and Sicily from early third century pertaining to or

designated the highest and most ornate of the three Greek orders. Its bell

shaped capital enveloped with acanthus leaves characterizes it.

 

It became favorite order of the Romans. It said that a certain Greek sculptor

got the inspiration after he saw a basked full of acanthus leaves over the grave

of beautiful Corinthian girl.

 

Two female headless figures , one of which is depicts as dancing and three

segments of relief of Buddha are also including the new discoveries. The

archaeologists after the preliminary examination of these newly discovered

antiquities here at Sub Regional Office ( SRO ) Taxila of said that these newly

discovered fragments are made of grape black schist and green phylite. The

viewed that these antiquities belongs to early stage of fist century AD or

second century AD.

 

Gandhra Civilization

 

The site where these new discoveries have made also have significant status in

Gandhra civilization. The at Dharmarajika stupa and monastery probably the

earliest stupa in Pakistan.

 

Archaeologists say this stupa was founded by the gDharma Rajah or the

righteous King, Ashok of Mauryan dynasty in the 3 rd Century BC. This stupa was

a source of inspiration and a place of attraction from the very begging of the

Buddhism religion.

 

This stupa was later re-constructed during the time of King Kanisha , in the 5th

Century AD. This site was only once executed by Sir Johan Marshall in 1920s and

a large number of precious antiquities including fragments were discovered.

However, after than this site was never executed.œ

 

 

 

 

 

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