Buddhist Heritage of Haryana , 9788173057298

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Buddhist Heritage of Haryana

Devendra Handa (Author)

Synopsis

The present work is based on the lifelong study of the monumental, numismatic, art and other archaeological remains of Haryana by the author. Inspired by his discovery of a Buddhist stupa at Chaneti in 1964 at the beginning of his career, the author sustained an interest in the Buddhist heritage of the state and discovered other stupas at Kurukshetra and Asandh. While serving as the Deputy Director of the Department of Archaeology and Museums, Haryana, in 1984 (on deputation), he explored many of the ancient sites of the state, discovered a railing pillar at Bhuna indicating the existence of a Kushan stupa there and acquired numerous art remains for the department. Remains of Buddhist images and railing from Ahrwan near Ballabhgarh were discovered subsequently. Many stupas at Kurukshetra, some referred to by the Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang have disappeared, while the remains of some others at Rohtak, Lalpur and Ad Badri have been exposed in explorations and excavations in recent decades. Ivory, terracotta, semi-precious beads and various other relics in museums and private collections were also examined by the author, taking cognizance of the discoveries made by others.

Haryana occupies an intermediary position between Gandhara and Mathura, two very important centres of Buddhist art. There is growing evidence to indicate that the Gandhara and Mathura Schools did not live in isolation and had mutual influences. Punjab and Haryana, being intermediary between the two, must have served as their meeting ground. And hence the importance of the relics discovered from this region. The present work brings to light many stupas, railings, pillars, sculptures, terracottas and other antiquities, showing clearly that Buddhism continued to live here even after it declined on the mainland after the eighth century CE.

It is hoped that this monograph will help in understanding the story of the development and decline of Buddhism and Buddhist art in northern India and will evoke further research and discussion.

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About the author

Devendra Handa

Shri Devendra Handa holds Post-Graduate degrees in Sanskrit, History and Education-all in First class and with top positions in the University. He obtained his Post-Graduate Diploma in Archaeology from the School of Archaeology (ASI, New Delhi) in 1964 with Credit (Distinction). He is the recipient of Maulana Azad and Archaeological Centenary Commemoration Medals, Sir Mortimer Wheeler Prize and various other awards. He is known to the indologists through more than three hundred research papers and the following books and monographs: 1 Osian: History, Archaeology, Art & Architecture, Delhi, 1984; 2 Studies in Indian Coins and Seals, Delhi, 1985; 3 Indological Studies: Essays in Memory of Shri S.P. Singhal, Delhi, 1987 (Ed.); 4 Ajaya-Sri: Recent Studies in Indology (Prof. Ajay Mitra Shastri Felicitation Volume), 2 Vols., Delhi, 1989 (Ed.); 5 Praci-Prabha: Perspectives in Indololgy (Essays in honour of Prof. B.N. Mukherjee), New Delhi, 1989 (Ed. Jointly with Prof. D.C. Bhattacharyya); 6 Ratna-Chandrika: Panorama of Oriental Studies (Shri R.C. Agrawala Festschrift), New Delhi, 1989 (Ed. Jointly with Prof. Ashvini Agrawal); 7 Heritage of Haryana: Buddhist Remains, Chandigarh, 1989; 8 Vishvambhara: Probings in Orientology (Prof. V.S. Pathak Festschrift), 2 Vols. New Delhi, 1995 (Ed. Jointly with Prof. Ajay Mitra Shastri and C.S. Gupta); 9 Numismatic Studies, Vols. 1-3 (1991-93), New Delhi (Ed.); 10 Oriental Numismatic Studies, Vols. 1-2 (1994 & 1996), Delhi (Ed.). He has attended numerous national and international conferences and delivered lectures in various institutions. In 1992, he got the Lowick Memorial Grant of the Royal Numismatic Society, London for studying the tribal coins of India. In 1993, he visited Sri Lanka on the invitation of the Sri Lanka Numismatic Society. He was honoured for his contributions to the science of numismatics at Calcutta in 1994. After a teaching career of more than thirty years, he finally retired from the Panjab University, Chandigarh in 1999. After his retirement from the Panjab University, Chandigarh, he was a Fellow at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study at Shimla (2000-2003) and Senior Fellow of the Ministry of Culture, GOPI, New Delhi (2003-2005). He presided over the 88th Annual Conference of the Numismatic Society of India at Nagpur in 2004 and Seminar on Coinage of the North West India at Chandigarh in 2005.

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