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The Ophidian Iconography Quest (Mundus Vetus & Mundus Novus, 2004 - present) |
| ● COMPENDIUM'S DATABASE ● |
| ◀ Figure 055 of 090 | INDIA: LOCATIONS | SET 001 | SET 002 | SET 003 | SET 004 | Figure 057 of 090 ▶ |
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| Figure SSA-ind-056. Alexei Alexeev and the north-east view of the Sariputta (Shariputra) Stupa of the Nalanda Mahavihara (Great Monastery). According to the legendary tradition, Nalanda was the residence of Nagarjuna (150-250 AD), widely considered as one of the most important Mahayana philosophers. Along with his disciple Aryadeva, he is considered to be the founder of the Madhyamaka school of Mahayana Buddhism. Nagarjuna is also credited with developing the philosophy of the Prajnaparamita Sutras. According to some sources, he revealed these scriptures to the world having recovered them from the water-dwelling nagas. That fact influenced the traditional iconography of Nagarjuna, who is often depicted in composite form comprising human and ophidian characteristics, or sitting under the protective canopy of the naga cobra hood. Nalanda is also the place of birth and nirvana of Sariputta (Shariputra), the foremost in wisdom, one of the two chief disciples of Buddha and famous archat, who was often depicted as witness in the scenes of nagas conversion. |
| Medium: | Category (Object): |
Artist/Workshop: | Historical/Art Period, Date: |
Location: | Monument: |
| Brick, plaster | Architectural monument | Unknown | Gupta Dynasty, Vishnugupta (r. 540-550 AD), 540s AD; later additions and modifications; almost competely destroyed by the army of Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khilji in 1193/1206 AD |
Nalanda Mahavihara (Great Monastery), Bihar, North-East India | Sariputta (Shariputra) Stupa (Temple 3) |
| Source-Image(s): The image(s) is/are from Alexei Alexeev's personal photo archive (The First Indian Expedition, 27 January - 6 March 2013). All artefacts will be available for viewing in the Compendium's respective volumes after the completion of the fully integrated iconographic database. Some of the artefacts will be represented by several figures (offering a general view and details). |
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