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The book Sculpting the Divine: Rock-cut Sculptures of Kauwa-Dol Hill explores the vibrant artistic legacy of the Pala period in the ancient Magadha region through meticulous documentation of Brahmanical and Buddhist sculptures. The site, once home to the ancient monastic complex of Silabhadra Vihara, served as a thriving centre of learning. The study highlights the dynamic interplay between rock, relief, and ritual, transforming stone into a medium of memory, sanctity, and historical continuity.

This work examines accounts by notable scholars who have studied the site, including Xuanzang, Buchanan, Kittoe, Beglar, Cunningham, Bloch and Patil. It comprehensively analyses the evolution of rock-cut sculptures, the environmental setting of Kauwa-Dol Hill, and its historical-religious landscape. Archival records, architectural fragments, remnants of ancient mounds and structures, and plausible causes of the site’s destruction further enrich the narrative.

Through detailed micro-documentation of the sculptures, hydrological strategies, and sculptural narratives, the book offers a nuanced understanding of the site’s socio-religious dynamics. The documentation has yielded sculptures of Hindu deities such as Visnu, Siva, Mahisasuramardini, Ganesa, Parvati, Gauri, Surya, and the Astamatrkas, along side Buddhist deities, including the Buddha, Tara, and Hariti. The site exemplifies remarkable religious plurality, with Brahmanical and Buddhist sculptures coexisting in harmony.