Buddhist Art Gallery: Kathmandu valley [Photo gallery]
These photos represents Buddhist objects from the Kathmandu valley in Nepal, such as paintings, scriptures, sculptures, ritualistic objects, etc. The items are exhibited in the National Museum of Nepal (Kathmandu), also known as the Rashtriya Museum.
Buddhism was highly received by the people of Kathmandu valley very early. The Licchavi rulers up to 8th century encouraged Buddhism. They raised Buddhist monasteries, stupas and consecrated land and financial support to maintain them. Thousands of votive chaityas, statues of Buddha, Bodhisattvas were casted in stone and bronze respectively. Even Hindus venerated Buddha as an incarnation of Lord Visnu.
Thousands of Buddhist scriptures like Prajnaparamita, Pancharaksha etc. either written or copied and the paintings of various deities were painted to fulfill the growing needs both in Nepal and Tibet. Nepalese Buddhist scholars went to Tibet and so did Tibetans to Nepal for further studies.
Vajrayana Buddhism developed many rituals and to perform these ritualities many ritualistic objects were designed. This system continues even today. Kathmandu valley is now one of the few places left to study and practicing the Vajrayana Buddhism.
Gallery: 137 images
Click each photos to see detailled description, exif-information and high-resolution:
