CENTER FOR ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY

Subject: Top: Iron implement; Bottom: Iron plough instrument

Subject: Tirthankara Vimalanatha standing in kayotsarga (dismissing the body) posture. His symbol boar can be seen on pedestal.

Subject: Mahisasurmardini

Subject: Surya

Subject: Kirtimukha, face of glory (decorative motif)

Subject: Buddha head

Subject: Ornamented brick carved to resemble a small shrine

Subject: Brick capital ornamented with a lotus pattern

Subject: Fragment of human head with a laughing face, an ear ornament and lock of hair on its right side

Subject: Votive Stupa. Miniature stupas such as these were dedicated by pilgrims who had visited the major site or sites associated with the life of the Buddha. It is also possible that they were dedicated on behalf of someone who was unable to undertake pilgrimage to any of the sites but wished to do so metaphorically by providing a small stupa such as this. The absence of inscriptions leaves their purpose uncertain.

Subject: Inscribed Abaci, made in Indo-Persepolitan style, the abaci is round in shape, polished and inscribed with Mauryan Brahmi characters reading the names of the donors.

Subject: Tara. Goddess Tara is the supreme goddess of mercy in Vajrayana Buddhism, best understood as a female counterpart to a Bodhisattva.

Subject: Buddha, standing, the right hand was probably in gesture of fearlessness or abhayamudra

Subject: Buddha's first Sermon, detail of the upper portion.

Subject: Buddha's first Sermon. The upper part was found in 1906-07 in the area east of Main Shrine, and the lower portion a year later in the area north of it. The image is broken across the wrist and the sides of the back-slab are also broken off. On either side of the halo is a garland carrying celestial figure in flight projecting from a cloud. On base, relief consisting of a dharmachakra wheel between two deer and six human figures in devotional attitude is present.

Subject: Buddha seated in preaching posture. Seated on a full-blown lotus, the figure may represent the Shravasti miracle, although here the multiple Buddhas are not shown.

Subject: Bodhisattva in seated position

Subject: Buddha in preaching posture. This tall relief has an an image of the Buddha with his hands in the teaching gesture.

Subject: Buddha, standing. The back-slab is broken off on the left side and below the level of the elbow on the right. The image was in abhyamudra or granting protection gesture. The hands and feet are broken off. The image was formerly preserved in Queen's college.

Subject: Buddha

Subject: Buddha, standing

Subject: Vajrasattva Ghantapani, seated

Subject: Buddha, standing

Subject: Seated Buddha