Asoka on ancient Indian sculptures

45 views
Skip to first unread message

sandesh

unread,
Jul 28, 2011, 4:05:16 AM7/28/11
to bharatswab...@googlegroups.com
MONDAY, JULY 25, 2011
 Asoka on ancient Indian sculptures
The Stone Portrait of Ashoka at Kanaganahalli
 
 

In the autumn of 1993, a team of acheologists was surveying the area around
sannati in the chitapur taluk of Gulbarga district. A dam was to be built
across the river Bhima near this place, and the survey was necessary for the
mandatory environment clearance, several sites were discovered in the course
of the survey, but the most dramatic evidence came from kanaganahalli. This
site is situated on the left bank of the Bhima river , 2km east of
chandralamba temple at sannati, Here some irregular stones arranged in arc
in the midst of agricultural fields attracted the attention of the
archeologists. Trial excavations in 1994-95 under the direction of K.P.
Poonacha revealed one eighth of a large brick stupa encased with sculpted
limestone slabs , carved limestone slabs, pillars, railings, capitals, and
sculptures were unearthed. Over 60 lead coins bearing the names of
satavahana kings, and 200 donative and label inscriptions were identified.
The remains of the kanaganahalli stupa is also known as mahachaitya.
 

The discoveries a the site included a broken relief sculpture showing a king
and queen flanked by female attendents two of whom held up a parasol and fly
whisk - symbols of sovereignty - in their hands. An Inscription in Brahmi
read "Ranyo Ashoka" (King Ashoka) leaving no doubt who the central figure
was supposed to represent.
 
Many years earlier a relief panel at the central indian site of sanchi has
been identified as representation of the same king, but there no inscription
to confirm the identification. Later after kanaganahalli was found same
sculpture with same inscription was found in orissa also, confirming the
identity of the person in sculpure to be Ashoka. Kanaganahalli provided
India.
 
Trial excavations at kanaganahalli were followed by more systematic ones in
1996-97. The report of these excavations contains a wealth of important
material illustrating the history of Buddhism in Karnataka especially upper
krishna valley.
 
http://storyofkannada.blogspot.com/2009/12/karnataka-ashoka-s-swarnabhoomi.html
Titled as Kanganahalli.
First ever discovered labelled portraiture of king Asoka and his queen
 
 
I am unable to locate the statue said to represent Asoka in the sculptures
of Sanchi stupa and related monuments.
 
The Kanaganahalli statue of Asoka Raya may be compared with the portrayal of
a king on Sanchi torana panels:
 
 
 
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chakravatin.JPG
(A Chakravatin, 1st century BCE/CE. Andhra Pradesh, Amaravati. Musee Guimet.
Personal photograph, 2005.)
Reign 274-232 BC
Coronation 270 BC
Full name Ashoka Bindusara Maurya
Titles Samraat Chakravartin; other titles include Devanampriya
andPriyadarsin
Born 304 BC
Birthplace Pataliputra, Patna
 
Died 232 BC (aged 72)
Place of death Pataliputra, Patna
 
Buried Ashes immersed in the GangesRiver, possibly at Varanasi,Cremated 232
BC, less than 24 hours after death
Predecessor Bindusara
 
Successor Dasaratha Maurya
 
Consort Maharani Devi
Wives Rani Tishyaraksha
Rani Padmavati
Rani Kaurwaki
 
Offspring Mahendra, Sanghamitra,Teevala, Kunala
 
Royal House Mauryan dynasty
 
Father Bindusara
 
Mother Rani Dharma or Shubhadrangi
Religious beliefs Hinduism, later on embracedBuddhism
 
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages