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SANGRĀHIKĀ

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA

Year 3, Issue 1, Jan-Mar 2017

e-newsletter on the museums of ASI

Editorial Team Dr Urmila Sant, Joint Director-General (Museums), Archaeological Survey of India Dr K. Lourdusamy, Director (Museums), Archaeological Survey of India Sh. Indu Prakash, Superintending Archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India Dr Aprajita Sharma, Assistant Archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India Data Supplied by Archaeological Site Museum, Khajuraho and Bhopal Circle, Archaeological Survey of India Archaeological Site Museums, Archaeological Survey of India Hindi Translation

Hindi Section, Archaeological Survey of India

Mail us at [email protected]

Mail us at [email protected]

image on cover: Buddha (source: Archaeological Site Museum, Nalanda) image on back cover: Avalokiteshvara (source: Archaeological Site Museum, Nalanda)

Contents

All contents in the publication are for information only. Feel free to refer and distribute this work with due acknowledgement but no part of this publication can be reproduced for any purpose in any form.

2 Year 3, Issue 1, Jan-Mar 2017

From the Editor’s Desk

3

Museums of Archaeological Survey of India Archaeological Site Museum, Nalanda

4-10

Education and Awareness Training and Workshop Exhibition

11-14

Prized Antiquity

15

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

from the Editor’s desk…

Dear friends,

Namaskar!

Our e-newsletter Sangrahika has completed two successful years for which

the credit goes to Archaeological Survey of India and all heritage lovers equally.

This issue is dedicated to Archaeological Site Museum, Nalanda which is

now celebrating hundred years of it existence. Established in 1917, it was the fifth

archaeological site museum of ASI which houses the antiquities unearthed during

different seasons of excavation of this celebrated institute of ancient education of

learning. Its repository is represented by stone, metal, terracotta and stucco

objects of Gupta and Pala period. An exquisite elegant sculpture of Pala period

made in typical polished black stone is a distinguished class, sometimes referred as

belonging to the Nalanda School of Art.

Through this e-newsletter we intend to apprise the reader about significant

activities in this prestigious archaeological site museum of Nalanda. Besides this,

the current issue also include activities, trainings, etc. happened during the first

quarter of the year.

I am sure like previous issues, this edition will also gain popularity and create

interest in Archaeological Site Museums.

Urmila Sant

Joint Director-General (Museums) Archaeological Survey of India


Archaeological site museum, Nalanda, established in the year 1917, is one of

the most prestigious site museums of Archaeological Survey of India. The

museum will celebrate its centenary this year. This museum has four (04) galleries

that houses antiquities found from the excavated site of Nalanda Mahavihara,

supposedly the earliest university-cum-monastery complex, which flourished

during 5th-12th centuries of Christian era under the patronage of Gupta, Maukhari

and Pala rulers, respectively. Later on, a few objects collected from the

neighboring villages of Nalanda and Rajgir were added to the treasure of this

museum.

Display includes stone images and sculptures, bronzes, stuccos, terracotta,

inscriptions, iron objects, ivory and bone objects, potteries, etc. Most of the images

belong to Buddhist faith but those belonging to Jaina or Brahmanical art are also

quite good in number.

Museums of Archaeological Survey of India

4

Archaeological Site Museum, Nalanda

fig. 1 ~ Nalanda: View of Archaeological Site Museum


Introduction

Main hall

The main hall of the museum exhibits fourteen stone images and sculptures

mounted over the wooden pedestals and also two huge storage jars (figure 2 as

on p. 5). The central space has been occupied by a scale model of the excavated

site of Nalanda which is quite useful for understanding the plan and shape of the

monastery.

fig. 2 ~ Archaeological Site Museum, Nalanda: Main hall



Gallery No. 1

Stone images and sculptures of Buddhist, Hindu and Jaina faiths have been

exhibited in this gallery. Heavy images are mounted over wooden pedestals

including two Jaina images of Rishabhanath and Parsvanath, three Hindu images

of Siva-Parvati, Vishnu and a bi-facial image of Kuber and Siva-Parvati and

remaining four of Buddhist faith.

The small pieces have been displayed in four wall showcases. One showcase

is dedicated to Hindu deities whereas three to Buddhist icons.

fig. 3 ~ Archaeological Site Museum, Nalanda: View of Gallery No. 1


6

Miscellaneous objects of antiquarian significance found during excavations

are displayed in this gallery through six showcases. Seals and sealing, ornaments

of terracotta and semi precious stones, decorative brick tiles, stuccos, iron

implements, objects of day-to-day use and ritual purposes, etc. are exhibited in

this gallery.


Gallery No. 2

Gallery No. 3

Excavations at Nalanda have

revealed a wide range of metal objects

particularly the bronzes which include

Buddhist, Brahmanical and Jaina

deities and objects of rituals and day-to

-day use. These have been cast by ‘lost

wax process’ with the help of moulds.

This gallery is meant exclusively

for bronzes displayed through wall

showcases.

fig. 7 ~ Archaeo-logical Site Museum,

Nalanda: Bronze Image of

Buddha, Gallery No. 3

fig. 4, 5, 6 ~ Archaeological Site Museum, Nalanda: View of Gallery No. 3 (above);

Multi-spouted vessel (below left); Stucco head (below right)


7

This gallery displays stone inscriptions and sculptures majority of which are

assignable to Pala period belonging to the Buddhist pantheon. Two panels

depicting ‘Kinnaras worshiping Kalpavriksha’ mounted on eastern and western

walls are beautiful example of Gupta period.

Few miniature pieces displayed in showcases are so intricate and minute in

carvings that they can easily be compared with that of bronzes.


Gallery No. 4

fig. 8-9 ~ Archaeological Site Museum, Nalanda: View of Gallery No. 4 (above);

Stone Inscription of Vipulsrimitra (below)



fig. 10-11 ~ Archaeological Site Museum, Nalanda: Shakyamuni Buddha (left);

Buddha (right)

Main Attractions

The main attractions in the museum are masterpieces of stone and two huge earthen storage jars; twelve armed Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara; Nagaraj with seven serpent hooded canopy; a colossal image of Buddha seated in dharmachakra mudra; a tantric deity Trilokya vijaya trampling Siva-Gauri; and Buddha seated in bhumisparsa mudra.

Collection

9

Total number of antiquities : 13,463

Displayed objects : 348

Reserve collection : 13,115

Antiquities are broadly categorised as


Stone images/ sculptures and inscriptions;

Bronzes;

Stuccos;

Terracotta/ potteries;

Inscriptions;

iron objects;

Ivory and bone objects, etc.

fig. 12-13 ~ Archaeological Site Museum, Nalanda: Nagraja (left); Boddhisatva Aviloketeshvara(right)

Visitor Amenities

10

Basic facilities like drinking water, toilets, wheel chair,

Signage boards for museum building

Direction board for visitors

Label for name and description of small display antiquities

Signages for detailed description of important antiquities

Information kiosk with touch screen

LED display for showing ASI documentaries

Visitor benches

Display Emergency contact list for any emergency

Museum Publications

Information

Visiting hours: 9.00 AM to 5.00 PM

(Museum remains closed on Friday)

Entry Fee - for museum

`5 - Both for Indians and Non-Indians

Free entry for Children below 15


Education and Awareness

A curatorial workshop for museum curators was conducted by Centre for

Cultural Resource and Training (CCRT) in collaboration with National Museum

Institute, New Delhi from January 18-24, 2017. Basic module of this training was

to cover principles of Preventive Conservation; display; exhibition; design and

digitizing museums/ documentation; outreach and related events; art handling

and installation.

The said training was attended by 11 officials working at different

museums of ASI.

Activities and Special Events


Training and Workshop

Centre for Cultural Resource and Training: Training of the officials of ASI during curatorial workshop

Officials from the Museum Section participated in the 7th ASEMUS

general conference titled “Engaged Museums: Technology, Access and New

Audiences” held at the National Museum, Delhi on 15th-16th March, 2017. The

said conference was organised by Asia-Europe Museum Network (ASEMUS) in

collaboration with the National Museum, Delhi.

During the conference, two workshops - ‘Developing Curatorial Concept’

and ‘Social Media for Museum Professionals’ were also attended by the officials.



Training and Workshop

National Museum, Delhi: Participants during the workshop - developing curatorial concept



Exhibition

The photo-exhibition titled Kēśavinyās opened at Archaeological Site

Museum, Sarnath on 29th January, 2017. The exhibition will remain on show till

30th April, 2017. Prior to this, the said exhibition was displayed at St. Fort George

Museum, Chennai from April to June, 2016. Initially, it was inaugurated at

Quarters Guard, Red Fort, Delhi, in November 2015.

Due to huge popularity and requests from masses, it was moved to Sarnath.

This exhibition presented a kaleidoscope of hair-styles in Indian Art through

photographs and line-drawings.

Archaeological Site Museum, Sarnath: Inauguration of the Exhibition Kēśavinyās

Prized Antiquity

Avalokiteshvara

Accession number: 10513

Period: 9th-10th century CE, Pala

Location: Archaeological Site Museum, Nalanda

Description: Seated in the lalitasana, attitude on the pericarp of a fully

blossomed double petalled lotus with his right foot perched on the second

lotus. He is richly adorned with beaded anklets, two girdles, armlets, a

beaded upavita, a beaded hara, a necklace, ear ornaments and short beaded

crown. At the base of his jata-mukuta is the Dhyani Buddha Amitabha. The

image is identified as Khasarpana form of Avalokiteshvara.

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