Bronzes from Nalanda

Nalanda (25° 8’ 12” N, 85° 26’ 38” E), district Nalanda in Bihar is one of the most important archaeological sites of India and famous for many accounts. Nalanda University during ancient period has been one of the reputed teaching centers of higher learning, known to the Asian countries and thereby attracted foreign scholars such as Hiuen Tsang, Fa-hien and others from countries like China, Japan etc. The site was excavated by the Archaeological Survey of India for many years and unearthed not only majestic structures but also artifacts of iconographic importance and artistic merits. Among antiquities, a magnificent hoard of bronzes of multiple iconographic verities with high artistic value were unearth. Most of them are of Buddhist in origin providing imagery of multiple gods and goddesses as described in the Buddhist scriptures. The existences of Brahmanical images in bronze here are also a class by themselves. Some of them are unique and rare in their presentation. The bronzes from Nalanda are as huge in number were distributed to the Indian Museum, Kolkata, Patna Museum (now in Bihar Museum, Patna), National Museum, New Delhi keeping considerable representative numbers in the Archaeological Site Museum, Nalanda. The book contains most authentic information of these bronze sculptures in the form of a descriptive catalogue now in the collection of the above said museums. The other relevant information of this art category and their technique of casting etc. have been provided in the end.