When I was in India in December leading a group
of 20 Singaporean pilgrims we went to Nalanda, the ancient Buddhist university.
After we had seen the main ruins I took them to see what is called Temple 2. Many visitors
to Nalanda miss this temple because it is out of sight behind the main
buildings. This is a pity because in some ways it is the most interesting
structure in Nalanda. Around the base of its outer walls are 211 stone panels
carved with an intriguing variety of scenes, figures, symbols and motifs. My
friend Nam Kin took these photos of some of them.
Picture no 1 is of what
I consider the most interesting of these carvings. Above the panel, rather than
the usual two geese (hansa) just standing there looking ‘symbolic’ the
sculpture has depicted the goose on the left preening itself, and the one on
the right with a gecko in its bill. No 2 is a lotus rising above the billowy waves while no 3 is a horse-headed man playing a flute. No 6 shows
an amours couple, the next one is of a goose while the next one includes a man playing a drum. The last one
depicts the amusing Kacchapa Jataka (No 215).
No matter what I do I cannot get
this last picture or no 2 to download right side up. The mysteries of the
computer! Sorry about that.
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