Jammu’s Buddhist heritage awaits Dalai Lama
Jammu’s Buddhist heritage awaits Dalai Lama who will be visiting on November 16, at the world famous archaeological site of Ambaran, near Akhnoor.
The eagerly awaited visit of the Tibetan Buddhist leader to more than two thousand years old architectural remains of a huge Buddhist monastic complex at Ambaran is being considered as a historic event by the natives of Akhnoor as well as Jammuites.
His Holiness, the spiritual leader of millions of Buddhists, had evinced interest to visit Ambaran, after watching at New Delhi last year, a photo exhibition of architectural remains and artifacts unearthed from Jammu’s world famous Buddhist archaeological site.
The experts of Archaeological Survey of India observed that the visit of Dalai Lama will not only give due recognition to rich and vibrant Buddhist past of Jammu but also draw attention of national and international tourists to this ancient Buddhist monastic complex at Ambaran.
A living religious center of Buddhism for more than 600 hundred years from 2nd century BCE to 5th- 6th century CE, Ambaran is located five kilometers upstream from Akhnoor, on the right bank of Chenab. It drew attention of the world when Ambaran and the nearby hamlet, were known as place of origin of the world famous terracotta sculptures popularly known as Akhnoor terracotta heads.
Presently displayed in all leading museums of the country and abroad, these exquisitely modeled heads of Bodhisattvas and other characters from Jatakas; the stories of previous births of the Buddha, served as decorations of outer walls of the monastic complex as grand sculptural panels in baked clay.
Prof Baidnath Labh of Department of Buddhist Studies, University of Jammu, said that it seems that Buddhism came to Jammu during the lifetime of Buddha and later on it was established in Kashmir and further to Central Asia. The monastic complex at Ambaran is one such material proof, he said.
His Holiness Dalai Lama, upon his arrival on November 16 morning at Jammu airport will proceed to Kala Kendra Jammu to witness a photo exhibition of artistic finds from Ambaran. He will then leave for Ambaran to visit the Buddhist archaeological site where foundations of a Kushana period eight-spoked stupa and a 3rd-4th century BCE stupa, which had revealed a casket containing relics of some great religious personality and two small votive stupas have been unearthed by Srinagar Circle of Archaeological Survey of India.
sve buddha..........
ReplyDelete