Indian and Central Asian Art : Narrative Interpretations of Unique Fragments

Contents: 1. An interesting Mural fragment from Xinjiang representing the sage Asita\'s predictions about the future of the infant Buddha. 2. Bodhisattva Siddhartha\'s visit to the writing school, Kumtura. 3. A unique painting from the Dome of a Roof, Kizil, Central Asia. 4. Bodhisattva Siddhartha of the Cave No. 1 of Ajanta, India. 5. A stone relief from Termez showing Mara\'s Assault on the Bodhisattva before his enlightenment. 6. An unidentified repousse\' Gilt Bronze medallion from Chinese Turkestan. 7. Buddha\'s visit to Kapilavastu as depicted in a mural fragment from Duldur Aqur, Xinjiang, Chinese Turkestan. 8. Ordination of two Sakya Princes, Nanda and Rahula as depicted in a Dunhuang Cave painting. 9. Bodhisattva Mahasattva Akshyamati\'s gift of pearl necklace to Avalokitesvara. 10. Mahakasyapa and the Ignition of the Buddha\'s Funeral Pyre from Kizil, Central Asia. 11. A Mural fragment showing a Buddhist Monk\'s meditation before a Skull, Kizil, Central Asia. 12. Skanda-Karttikeya as a Yaksha as depicted in a Central Asian Mural fragment. 13. A mural fragment from Duldur Aqur, Central Asia representing Skanda-Karttikeya and Vishakha. 14. Ramayana scenes from Kizil. 15. Hariti cult in India and Central Asia with special reference to Eastern Turkestan. 16. Yama and Varuna, Yulin Cave. 17. Some eminent court poets of the time of Lakshmanasena of Bengal. 18. An inscribed fragmentary Torana Panel (Stone) from Mathura. 19. Kapila. 20. A stone sculpture from Sonkh near Mathura, India. 21. Painted female figures from Sigiriya and the Sun-myth from Sri Lanka. 22. A terracotta Panel from Bhitargaon, showing a Ramayana scene. 23. A stone panel from Nagarjunakonda showing Sudhanu\'s journey to the city of the Kinnaras. 24. The story of Rishyasringa as depicted in the art of Sanghol, Punjab. 25. A mediaeval bronze sculpture of Arapachana from Nepal. 26. Sariputra. 27. Revanta from Kakrak (Bamiyan) in Afghanistan. Appendix: 1. India and Central Asia - through arts and literatures. 2. Hindu deities and religious motifs in Xinjiang. 3. A manuscript dated in the Regnal year 53 of Ramapala. 4. A note on the worship of images in Jainism (third century B.C. to A.D. two hundred). 5. Birth of Buddha and its Vedic parallel. Bibliography.

"This volume contains original interpretative articles on Indian and Central Asian art and culture offering fresh insight into the study of the Asian traditions.

Central Asian antiquities discovered from different parts of Xinjiang including Dunhuang are of great archaeological and artistic significance. Most of the artifacts are fragile and fragmentary which add difficulties in identifying them. Dr. P. Banerjee, well known exponent of Indian and Central Asian Art had studied these objects for over the decades very closely. Some of his conclusions are published in this volume. Dr. Radha Banerjee Sarkar helped him providing parallel examples in support of his research. This is the third volume in the series of Indian and Central Asian Art. Dr. P Banerjee has identified more than 100 artifacts from India and Central Asia and they have been published in the above mentioned volumes and leading research journals of the world. The present volume also included Dr. P Banerjee\'s path breaking articles on Indian art and inscription.

This present book will contribute to the advancement of knowledge and understanding in the field of Indian and Central Asian art and iconography which are complex in nature. Although there are many books about Indian and Central Asian Art, this book will certainly give an extra dimension to the understanding of the cultural closeness among ancient India and Central Asia.

This volume is the humble tribute to Dr. P. Banerjee who died recently before he could see the book in printing." (jacket)