Bimaran reliquary

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Bimaran Reliquary, British Museum , London
Steatite vessel, reliquary and coins

The bimaran reliquary is an approx. 6.6 × 6.7 cm small gold box ( pyxis ) with a round cross-section. It is now in the British Museum in London .

Find history

The bimaran relequiar was found during excavations between 1833 and 1838 in a labeled steatite vessel in an already largely destroyed stupa near the village of Bimaran west of Jalalabad , Afghanistan . According to the inscriptions (see below), the vessel is said to have contained relics (probably bone fragments) from Buddha . When the relic was found, the lid was missing and the bones were no longer there. Next to the box were pearls and four coins from King Azes I or Azes II , which may be one and the same person who can be classified in the second half of the first century BC; the coins should give an indication of the chronological order of the gold vessel and thus of the entire stupa.

Dating

The relic is one of the earliest and best preserved goldsmiths' works from the Graeco-Indian or Graeco- Scythian cultural area. It is also one of the earliest depictions of the Buddha, which is particularly important because it can be dated relatively well. However, the dating is not without controversy in research: Due to the attached coins, the pyxis should have been in the period between approx. 50 and 10 BC. Have been made; on the other hand, no other Buddha images are known from this period - that is why many prefer the second half of the 1st century AD as the date of origin and the coins are viewed as re-mintings.

description

The bimaran reliquary is decorated with eight arcades of piers , all of which end with keel arches at the top ; in the spandrels are birds (eagles or geese ( hamsa )) with outspread wings, which can be interpreted as symbols of the liberated soul (see moksha and jiva ). The gold vessel presents two representations of the Buddha striding or standing in counterost and wearing a toga with the hand gesture of greeting or granting protection ( abhayamudra ). On his head there is the typical topknot ( ushnisha ) of the enlightened one. The two Buddhas are each flanked in profile by two figures facing him, who are usually interpreted as Bodhisattvas or the Hindu deities Brahma and Indra . The two remaining figures are shown frontally and have their palms placed together in a gesture of adoration.

  • overall view

  • Buddha (detail)

  • Brahma

  • Indra

  • Worshiping Bodhisattva (?)

  • Goose or eagle

Inscriptions

The body of the steatite vessel bears the following inscription: Holy gift of Shivaraksita, son of Munjavamda, given for the relics of the Lord, for the glory of all Buddhas.

On the lid it says: Gift of Shivaraksita, son of Munjavamda, given for the relics of the Lord

See also

Web links

Commons : Bimaran Reliquary  - Collection of images, videos and audio files