EARLY BUDDHIST SCULPTURES OF NEPAL

By:
Min Bahadur Shakya
Director
NAGARJUNA INSTITUTE OF EXACT METHODS
CONTENTS
 Background
 Theme
 Early Buddhist sculptures at Lumbini
 Sculptures of Kathmandu
 Conclusion
THEME
 Stone sculptures found in Lumbini and
Kathmandu valley
BUDDHIST SCULPTURES IN LUMBINI
 Nativity Sculpture
 Head of the Buddha - Sandstone
 Siddhartha and Yasodhara
 Terracotta Bodhisattva
 An Image of Bodhisattva (Maitreya)
 Marker Stone
 Broken Piece of Asokan Pillar
Nativity Sculpture
Head of the Buddha - Sandstone
Siddhartha and Yasodhara
Terracotta Bodhisattva
An Image of Bodhisattva (Maitreya)
A Marker Stone
A Broken Piece of Asokan Pillar
BUDDHIST SCULPTURES IN KATHMANDU
 Headless torso found at Harigaon now at national
museum
 Virupaksa image at Pashupati
 Standing Buddha Chabahil-5th century
 Seated Buddha-6th century –Kontivahi
 Standing Buddha at Ramshah Path, 7th century
 Caturvyuha Chaitya at Svayambhu dated 4/5th
century
 Caturvyuha caitya at Nagbahal Hiti
Contd..
BUDDHIST SCULPTURES IN KATHMANDU
...Contd
 Buddha flanked by Bodhisattvas (Guita Bahi, Patan 6th
century)
 Standing Buddha at Yampivihara, Patan, 6th century
 Standing Buddha at Bangemudha, Kathmandu -5th
century
 Standing buddha, Nakabahil – 10th Century
 Maitreya Buddha at Svayambhu dated 5th-6th century
 A fragment of Mara's Temptation of Buddha (6th
century)
 A monolothic Stupa from Mahakal sthan, Tundikhel,
Kathmandu circa 5th century
Contd..
BUDDHIST SCULPTURES IN KATHMANDU
...Contd
 The Monolithic Stupa of Bhagavan bahal, Thanbahi,
circa 6-7 century
 The Chaitya at Dhvakabaha, 7th century
 A beautiful monolithic Chaitya from Teku,
Kathmandu circa 5th-6th century
 Decorated chaityas with Buddhas on them from 7th
centuries, Thanbahi, Kathmandu
 Bodhisattva Padmapani at Ganabahal (550 A.D)
 Four Padmapani images at Kvabahal
 Headless torso found at Harigaon now at national museum
According to Lain singh Bangdel, the figure was identified as King Harivarma dated 185 A.D.
Virupaksa Image at Pasupati dated 4/5 century
Standing Buddha (Chabahil – 5th Century)
Seated Buddha – 6th Century - Kontivahi
Standing Buddha at Ramshah Path – 7th Century
Caturvyuha Caitya at Svayambhu – 4/5th Century
Caturvyuha Caitya at Nagbahal Hiti
Buddha Flanked by Bodhisattvas (Guita Bahi, Patan – 6th Century)
Standing Buddha at Yampivihara, Patan – 6th Century
Standing Buddha at Bangemudha, Kathmandu – 5th Century
Standing Buddha at Nakabahil, Lalitpur – 10th Century
Maitreya Buddha at Svayambhu – 5th-6th Century
A Fragment of Mara’s Temptation of Buddha – 6th Century
A Monolithic Stupa from Mahakal Sthan, Tundikhel, Kathmandu – circa 5th Century
The Monolithic Stupa of Bhagavan Bahal, Thanbahi – circa 6-7th Century
The Caitya at Dhvakabaha – 7th Century
A Beautiful Monolithic Caitya from Teku, Kathmandu – circa 5-6th Century
Decorated Caityas with Buddhas on them from 7th Century, Thambahi, Kathmandu
Bodhisattva Padmapani at Ganabahal (550 A.D.)
Four Padmapani Images at Kvabahal
Four Padmapani Images at Kvabahal
CONCLUSION
 Through the study of these
sculptures we can conclude that all
forms of Indian art were transmitted
to Nepal and Nepalese Sculptors in
turn created their own Newar style of
art forms establishing indigenous
artistic identity.