Kunala Stupa
Kunala Stupa is a Kushan-era Buddhist stupa and monastery complex to the south-east of Taxila, on a hill about 200 meters just south of Sirkap, Punjab, Pakistan, thought to date to the 2nd century CE.[1] It is located on a hill overlooking the ancient Indo-Greek city of Sirkap.[2]
Its name come from Kunala, a son of Ashoka.[3] Kunala, the legitimate heir to the throne had been blinded by one of Ashoka's queens, Tishyaksha, due to jealousy for his beautiful eyes. After years of wandering, Kunala reunited with his father Ashoka, and was treated by a doctor from Taxila.[1][4]
Buddhist pilgrims with eye impairment came to the stupa with the hope of being cured.[1]
The Kunala stupa was visited by the Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang, who wrote an account of it.[1][4]
- Kunala stupa and monastery are on the hill just south of Sirkap.
References
- ^ a b c d Marshall, Sir John Hubert (1951). Taxila: An Illustrated Account of Archaeological Excavations. CUP Archive. p. 348.
- ^ Boda, Sharon La (1995). International Dictionary of Historic Places: Asia and Oceania. Taylor & Francis. p. 807. ISBN 9781884964046.
- ^ Samad, Rafi U. (2011). The Grandeur of Gandhara: The Ancient Buddhist Civilization of the Swat, Peshawar, Kabul and Indus Valleys. Algora Publishing. p. 160. ISBN 9780875868585.
- ^ a b Wriggins, Sally (2008). The Silk Road Journey With Xuanzang. Basic Books. p. 171. ISBN 9780786725441.
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- Gandhara Kingdom
- Achaemenid invasion of the Indus Valley
- Greek conquests in India
- Mauryan Empire
- Greco-Bactrian Kingdom
- Indo-Greek Kingdom
- Indo-Scythians
- Indo-Parthians
- Kushan Empire
- Alchon Huns
- Turk Shahis
- Hindu Shahis
- Ghaznavid Empire
- Greco-Buddhist art
- Greco-Buddhism
- Hellenistic influence on Indian art
- Silk Road transmission of Buddhism
- Art of Gandhara by museum
Peshawar basin |
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Taxila |
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Eastern Afghanistan |
- Aramaic Inscription of Taxila
- Bimaran Casket
- Kanishka reliquary
- Stone palettes
- Buddhas of Bamiyan
- Buner reliefs
- Saptarishi Tila statue
- Post-Mauryan coinage of Gandhara
- Kabul hoard
- Shinkot casket
- Rukhuna reliquary
- Treasure of Begram
- Wardak Vase
- Standing Buddha
- Brussels Buddha
- Bajaur casket
- Silver Reliquary of Indravarman
- Hephthalite silver bowl
- Gardez Ganesha