ISLAMABAD, Dec 31 (APP):Islamabad Museum-DOAM (Fedaral Department of Archaeology and Museums) has received rare and remarkable collection of Buddhist stone sculptures.
The statue of “Maha Ummagga Jataka” excavated in the district of Mardan, site of Tarali located near Sawal Dher village is one of the important Buddhist stupa.
The mission of digging began in the valley in 1956, the artifact was excavated sometime in the 60s and it was last displayed in a museum in 1997.
The sculptures include, “Maha Ummagga Jataka” two females adorned with jewelry and long robes and a child standing between them.
Discovery of Buddhist statues from Mardan Valley which is predominantly home to stone sculptures was a rare phemenon, Islamabad Museum’s official said.
He said sculptures of Buddha were frequently found in Taxila and Afghanistan, adding that Maha Ummagga Jataka meant Pali in Bhuddhism.
He said special attention was being paid to sculpting the heads and body of Buddha, and finer material was used as well.
He further said there was history of “Maha Ummagga Jataka” sculpture in Buddhist culture which was associated with a king named Vedeha who ruled Mithila.
