SANGRĀHIKĀ Year 3, Issue 1, Jan-Mar 2017 e-newsletter on the museums of ASI ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF INDIA
Contents From the Editor s Desk 3 Museums of Archaeological Survey of India 4-10 Archaeological Site Museum, Nalanda Education and Awareness Training and Workshop Exhibition 11-14 Prized Antiquity 15 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 dirmuse.asi@gov.in Mail us at direxhibition.asi@gmail.com image on cover: Buddha (source: Archaeological Site Museum, Nalanda) image on back cover: Avalokiteshvara (source: Archaeological Site Museum, Nalanda) 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 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 Year 3, Issue 1, Jan-Mar 2017 3
Museums of Archaeological Survey of India Introduction Archaeological Site Museum, Nalanda 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. Main hall fig. 1 ~ Nalanda: View of Archaeological Site Museum 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. 4 Year 3, Issue 1, Jan-Mar 2017
Museums of Archaeological Survey of India Gallery No. 1 fig. 2 ~ Archaeological Site Museum, Nalanda: Main hall 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 Year 3, Issue 1, Jan-Mar 2017 5
Museums of Archaeological Survey of India Gallery No. 2 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. 3 fig. 4, 5, 6 ~ Archaeological Site Museum, Nalanda: View of Gallery No. 3 (above); Multi-spouted vessel (below left); Stucco head (below right) 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 ~ Archaeological Site Museum, Nalanda: Bronze Image of Buddha, Gallery No. 3 6 Year 3, Issue 1, Jan-Mar 2017
Museums of Archaeological Survey of India Gallery No. 4 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. fig. 8-9 ~ Archaeological Site Museum, Nalanda: View of Gallery No. 4 (above); Stone Inscription of Vipulsrimitra (below) Year 3, Issue 1, Jan-Mar 2017 7
Museums of Archaeological Survey of India 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. fig. 10-11 ~ Archaeological Site Museum, Nalanda: Shakyamuni Buddha (left); Buddha (right) 8 Year 3, Issue 1, Jan-Mar 2017
Collection 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) Year 3, Issue 1, Jan-Mar 2017 9
Visitor Amenities 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 10 Year 3, Issue 1, Jan-Mar 2017
Education and Awareness
Activities and Special Events Training and Workshop 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. Centre for Cultural Resource and Training: Training of the officials of ASI during curatorial workshop 12 Year 3, Issue 1, Jan-Mar 2017
Activities and Special Events Training and 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. National Museum, Delhi: Participants during the workshop - developing curatorial concept Year 3, Issue 1, Jan-Mar 2017 13
Exhibition Activities and Special Events 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 14 Year 3, Issue 1, Jan-Mar 2017
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. Prized Antiquity
Archaeological Survey of India, 2017