Varia Collection in Swat Museum Pakistan

ANALYTICAL STUDY OF "VARIA COLLECTION" NARRATIVE RELEIFS, IN ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM SWAT AND ITS IMPORTANCE_IN BUDDHIST ART OF GANDHARA ART ________

*I ABDUL GHAFOOR

In ancient times, Swat Valley, ancient Odiyana orOddiyana which accoding to Beal(1969:119, Note 1) means"garden", remained a junction of cultural, social andeconomical activities1. Swat Valley is a crucial thread toexplain the evolution and development of Gandhara art andBuddhism in the North Western region of Pakistan, presentlyknown as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa2. Its archaeological potential anddiscoveries like Ghalighay rock shelter, strengthen thehypothesis that Swat Valley played a vital role in theevolution of Gandhara art3. Evidence of ancient pottery andrelative cultures in the regions lying between the slopes ofHindukush and those of Karakorum, emerges from Swat andKashmir Valleys4. The stratigraphic excavations of Ghalighayprovided Stacul with the confirmation of his workinghypothesis and with the possibility of attempting to give alsoan absolute chronology for the entire cultural area of Swatand surrounding based on two main factors: radiocarbon methodand typological comparison of the material5.

During 1926 and 1933, search and hunting forarchaeological potential of the region carried out by aHungarian British explorer and archaeologist Sir Aurel Stein,then Ph. Barger and E. Wright one after another, also carriedout non scientific excavations, by both Ph. Barger and E.Wright on the behalf of Archaeological survey of India, on1 Rahman Abdul, "A Walk Through Gandhara", Proceedings of the International Workshop on

Gandhara Cultural Heritage, Islamabad 2011, Taxila Institute of Asian Civilizations, p.222 In early 2010, the process of renaming proceeded and the Pakistani Senate confirmed the

name change to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the 18th amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan witha unanimous 90 votes on 15 April 2010.

3 Aurel Stine, Sir, The Geographical Journal , Vol.LXX, No.5 , 1927, p.418, "Alexander'sCampaign on the Indian North-West Frontier",

4 Giorgio Stacul, Sept-Dec. 1974, East & West, p.239, " New Archaeological Evidence onNorth West Indo Pakistan(3rd -1st Millennia B.C) ".

5 Chiara Silvi Antonion, Sept-Dec. 1973, East & West, Vol.23, Nos 3-4, p.236, "More aboutSwat and Central Asia".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Pakistan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eighteenth_Amendment_to_the_Constitution_of_Pakistan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistani_Senate

smaller scale in 19386. Prof.G.Tucci, president of the ItalianInstitute for the Middle and Far-East (Istituto Italiano per il Medio edEstremo Oriente, IsMEO), lunched an accurate survey in 1955-56 toselect the two sites i.e Udigram and Butkara near Mingora, tobe excavated7. Since then Italian Archaeological Mission isworking in Swat Valley8.

Swat Valley is lapped with variety of archaeologicaldiscoveries. In early days some archaeological sites of protohistoric period, i.e Aligrama, Barama, Gogdara, Katelai(Amankot), Loebanr snatched the concentration of researchersand Ghaligai (3rd -1st millennium BC) became a yard stick todetermine the chronology of Swat valley. Besides theserevolutionary discoveries, hundreds of Buddhist monasticcomplexes, identified in Swat Valley which presented diversearchitectural style and sculptural presentation of Buddhistart. Swat valley have its own recognized Buddhist art andstyle which reflected by narrative reliefs.

There are four major institutes carried outarchaeological investigations and excavations in Swat Valley.Istituto Italiano per il Medio ed Estremo Oriente (IsMEO) fromwhich the Italian Archaeological Mission depends, started itthe eeliest excavations at Butkara and Udigram in 1956.Department of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Pakistan,Department of Archaeology Peshawar (Provincial) and Departmentof Archaeology Peshawar University Peshawar also unearthednumerous archaeological sites and Buddhist complexes includingAmluk Dara, Barikot, Butkara I,III, Gambatuna, Gumbat, KalkoDheri, Malam jaba Stupa, Nimogram, Panr, Tokardara (Nijigram),Saidu Stupa, Shanaisha,9,

6 Faiz ur Rahman Curator, "A brief Guide, Swat Archaeological Museum" published by ACT(Archaeology Community- Tourism Field School) Saidu Sharif 2013, p.10.

7 Giucci Tucci (1864-1984), Domenico Faccenna (1923-2008), Maurizio Taddei (1936-2000), Giorgio Stacul, Umberto scerrato (1928-2004),Pierfrancesco Callieri, ,Anna, Lucca M.Oliveri,

8 Italian Archaeological Mission, (IsMEO) Pakistan, Swat, 1956-1981, Documentary Exhibition

9 Khan Rafiullah, "Present State of Archaeological sites and Monuments of Swat Valley", Proceedings of the International Workshop on Gandhara Cultural Heritage, Islamabad2011, Taxila Institute of Asian Civilizations, p.173.

During the period till 30th November 2003, ItalianMission, collected and documented hundreds of rare antiquitiesfrom local inhabitants, who took interest and approached themto share their information and handed over, surfacecollection, possessions and randomly collected antiquities.Except 16 objects, from serial no 936 to 951are not tracedfrom the lists prepared by then the member of ItalianMission(Tab.1). This collection was reported from variouslocations in Swat and surrounding areas, therefore it wastermed "Varia Collection".

Italian Mission documented 1604 objects of VariaCollection, of different material, including more than 1155stone sculptures, few complete, mostly in fragmentary anddamaged condition10. Mostly this collection was kept at ItalianArchaeological Mission rest house Mingora Saidu Sharif, Swatand after the establishment of Archaeological museum Swat in1959, these rare antiquities were shifted to ArchaeologicalMuseum Swat besides 71 antiquities which were shifted toItaly11.

There are total, 1604 antiquities recorded by the Italianmission in Pakistan. Varia Collection mainly comprises of 1155sculptures made of different types of schist stone, i.e blackschist, green schist, blue schist etc (Tab.2). These stonesculptures are consisting of narrative reliefs of Jatakas,life story of Buddha, individual sculptures of Buddha andBodhisattvas, Architectural panels, beads and steles. Besidesthese stone sculptures, good quantity of terracotta pottery(311 nos), stucco (47 nos), copper (56 nos) antiquitiesincluding coins, silver (1 nos) bone/shell, iron (8 nos), isalso available. Varia collection-Archaeological Museum swatwas reported from 94 different localities in and around Swat

10 There total 1606 objects registered but two objects were omitted. Besides this 54 objects, shifted to Italy-1982.

11 This building was established by Late Mian Gul Jahanzeb, then the Wali-e- Swat, to keep his private collection and material collected by I.A.M after three season of excavation in Butkara and Udigram.

i Assistant Director department of Archaeology and Museums Islamabad (PhD Scholar TIAC, Quaid –i- Azam University Islamabad)

and few from Chitral, Peshawar and Dir, besides 36 antiquitiesfrom unknown area (TAb.3). 24 objects were also purchasedfrom the people. The largest collection is reported fromAligrama total 207 objects, including 41 stone objects, 162Terracotta objects I copper and 3 Iron.

There are 71 antiquities of Varia Collection, shifted toItaly under then the prevailing rules. On 26th August 1961,Government of Pakistan granted , License to, Institute per il medioed Estremo Oriente, Rome (Italy) IMESO for five years to exploreand carry out archaeological excavation in Swat Valley. Undersection 13 of the rules;

"Assignment of finds: All monuments and antiquities found during exploration or excavationsare the property of the Islamic republic of Pakistan. However, the Licensee will be presented withsome of the finds, consisting of objects or groups of objects which the department of Archaeology,Government of Pakistan, agrees o spare because of their similarity to other objects discovered in thesame site. Unique finds will be remained in the custody of department of Archaeology, Government ofPakistan. The share of the licensee will, as far as possible, be representative of the archaeological siteconcerned.

The finds thus presented shall be placed by the Licensee in public collections where they areavailable for examination and study. When the presented objects form an assemble the Licensee orthe authority of public collection shall report their unity. If these two conditions are not observed theobjects shall be returned to the department of Archaeology Government of Pakistan "

Dr. Lucca, Director Italian Mission camp office at Swat,in Pakistan, helped a lot. He provided the copies of the listsof Varia Collection, available at the camp office of themission, in Swat. These lists were prepared during 1956 to2003 (Tab.3). Pictures of stone sculptures shifted to Italyalso shared.

Main collection of narrative reliefs is very viable tostudy the evolution and development of Buddhist art ofGandhara in Swat. These narrative relieves consist of theJatakas, life story of Buddha and architectural panel (Tab.4).

. Narrative reliefs of Varia Collection are reportedfrom 94 different locations, presenting different material,unfolding diverse subjects and scenes of the life of Buddha(Tab.5). First of all it is necessary to classify all thesereliefs according to their material, identify their subjects

and recognize their style to fix their schools of emergence.Varity of material and subjects depicted in the stonesculptures are very interesting to elucidate its forms,typology, styles and school of emergence and their influencein Swat Valley. Classification can be helpful to compare itwith contemporary schools of Buddhist art not only in Swatvalley but also surrounding and adjoining areas like Dir,Chitral. Systematically excavated material and data will besufficient to identify the origin of this lose collection andgive it an appropriate distinctiveness in school of BuddhistArt of Gandhara in Pakistan. Different aspects of VariaCollection can be considered as representative of differentcenters at a particular moment. It also can be linked aparticular aspect of a particular centre. Study of VariaCollection in the light of the investigated material will helpto correlate its artistic affinities with Swati Buddhist Art.

Bibliography:

1. Aurel Stine, Sir, 1927"Alexander's Campaign on the Indian North-West

Frontier", The Geographical Journal ,Vol.LXX, No.5

2. Giorgio Stacul, Sept-Dec. 1967, East & West, "Excavation in a Rock

Shelter near Ghaligai (Swat W..Pakistan), Preliminary report" p.18.

3. Giorgio Stacul, Sept-Dec. 1974, East & West, "New Archaeological

Evidence on North West Indo Pakistan (3rd -1st Millennia B.C) ".

4. Chiara Silvi Antonion, Sept-Dec. 1973, "More about Swat and Central

Asia".East & West, Vol.23, Nos 3-4, p.236,

5. Faiz ur Rahman Curator, 2013"A brief Guide, Swat Archaeological Museum"

published by ACT(Archaeology Community- Tourism Field School) Saidu

Sharif,

6. Documentary Exhibition, 1956-1981. Italian Archaeological Mission,

(IsMEO) Pakistan, Swat, ,

7. Proceedings International Workshop on Gandhara Cultural Heritage, TIAC,

2011, Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad.

8. Chiara Silvi Antonion March –June 1963"Preliminary Notes on the

Excavation of the Necropolises found in Western Pakistan", East & West,

IsMEO, Rome- New Serious Vol.Nos. 1-2

Table1. Year wise detailof documentation of "Varia Collection" (1956-2003).

Table.2. Material wisedistribution of "VariaCollection"

Year Accession No Total1956-61 1-365 3651962 366-508 1431963 509-605 97

1964-65 606-672 671966 673-935 2631967 936-1159 2241968 1160-1295 1361972 1296-1338 431973 1339-1342 41975 1343-1350 81976 1351-1421 711979 1422-1429 81980 1430-1456 271983 1457-1605 1492003 1606 1

Material Quantity

Black Schist 538Green Schist 460White Schist 5Blue Schist 53Talcose Stone 8Soap Stone 3Stone (Semi precious) 86Granite 2Terra Cotta 311Stucco 47Silver 1Copper 56Bone/ Shell 13Iron 8

Grand Total: 1591

S.No Site Antiquities S.No Site Antiquiti

es1. Abasahebchina 112 53 Loehanr 582. Akba 3 54 Maglao 13. Aligram 207 55 Makanbagh 14. Amluk Dara 11 56 Mandara 15. Arabut 2 57 Manichinar 16. Arapkanchina 12 58 Mangalkot 17. Arapkan 2 59 Manglaore 18. Arakmanchina 3 60 Marjanai 29. Arkot 5 61 Maylaor 110. Baligram 1 62 Miana 111. Balogram 1 63 Mingora 2712. Barama 18 64 Mora Bande 213. Barikot 72 65 Nazahei 414. Buner 12 66 Nawagai 615. Butkara 63 67 Nijigram 3616. Cei 3 68 Pnar 11417. Charbagh 4 69 Prantangai 318. Chail 5 70 Saidu 1919. Chinar Tanjdra 1 71 Shandala 120. Dangram 14 72 Shanash 1021. Dagai(Warsak) 3 73 Shakardarra 122. Darel Valley 26 74 Shakorai(Janabad) 423. Dir 1 75 Shang-lai 224. Galiko 1 76 Shagai 625. Gamkot 2 77 Shinashi 3

26. Gari Chingai Chinar 1 78 Singardar 2

27. Garo 7 79 Singar 328. Garasa 1 80 Sogolai 129. Galooch 1 81 Swat 2630. Ghaligai 9 82 Supalbandai 131. Gogdara 9 83 Talegram 132. Guligram 4 84 Tokar 433. Gumbatuna 146 85 Tangir Valley 134. Gumbat 161 86 Tokardara 3935. Gimbat 9 87 Topardara 236. Harapkanchina 7 88 Tirat Stupa 137. Jarjorai 7 89 Titabad 138. Jambil Valley 5 90 Udigram 839. Kabbal 2 91 Udigram Castle 540. Kalam (Rashnol) 2 92 Zawra 141. Kambar 1 93 Peshawar 342. Kanjarkote 30 94 Chitral (Naghornuri) 1843. Khauttaro Mera (Pna 1 95 Unknown 3644 Karora/Karero 4 87 Topardara 245 Khaimdare 1 88 Tirat Stupa 146 Katelai 119 89 Titabad 147 Kota 4 90 Udigram 848 Kotlai 3 91 Udigram Castle 549 Kutar 1 92 Zawra 150 Kukarai 3 93 Peshawar 351 Landerai 7 94 Chitral (Naghornuri) 1852 Loeban 3 95 Unknown 36

Grand Total: 1591

Table3 Site-wise distribution of "Varia Collection", in SwatMuseum Pakistan

S,No Subject1. Dipanakara Jataka2. Queen Maya's dream and interpretation3. Queen Maya and King Suddhodana4. Birth of Siddhartha

5. Birth, Great Departure , en-treatment and Worship ofthree jewels

6. First Bathe of Siddhartha7. Marriage 8. Horoscope9. Birth of Kanthaka and Chandaka10. Siddhartha in School11. Wrestling Scene12. Palace life13. Killing & hurling of the state elephant14. Visit of Ascetics and Hurling of the dead elephant15. Introduction of Royal couple16. Renunciation

17. Inducement of Mara, worship of relic casket, bowl and wheel of law,

18. En treatment of Buddha to preach19. Preparation of seat for first sermon20. First Sermon21. First Meeting with Kasyapa22. Buddha presents black serpent to Kasyapa

23. Buddha's first visit to Brahman in hut and offering to Buddha

24. Presentation of monastic robe & offerings of flowers25. Offering of a Handful of dust26. Conversion of Yaksha Atavika27. Meeting of Bimbisara28. Srigupta Invitation/Bimbisara29. Buddha visits Rajgriha30. Miracle of Saraswati31. Buddha's Maha-parinirvana32. Cremation of Buddha33. Distribution of Holy relics34. First Sermon-Worship of Triratna35. Worship of Tri-Ratna-Piteka36. Dionysus- Drinking Scene37. Secular Scene-Satyr38. Hunting Scene39. Ascetic & Donor

Table4 Subject wise Narrative Reliefs of stone "Varia Collection", inSwat Museum Pakistan

Tabble,5. Detail Chart of Varia Collection,

S.No Reported Location

BlackSchist

GreenSchist

WhiteSchist

BlueSchis

t

TalcoseStone

SoapStone Stone Granite Terra

Cotta Stucco Silver Copper

Bone/

Shell

Iron

Antiquities

1. Abasahebchina 87 12 10 1 2 1122. Akba 2 1 33. Aligram 8 16 1 2 14 162 1 3 2074. Amluk Dara 4 3 1 2 1 115. Arabut 2 26. Arapkanchina 1 9 2 127. Arapkan 1 1 28. Arakmanchina 3 39. Arkot 1 3 1 510. Baligram 1 111. Balogram 1 112. Barama 3 9 1 5 1813. Barikot 51 4 2 12 2 1 7214. Buner 3 1 4 4 1215. Butkara 30 30 2 1 6316. Cei 3 317. Charbagh 3 1 418. Chail 4 1 519. Chinar Tanjdra 1 120. Dangram 4 4 4 1 1 1421. Dagai(Warsak) 3 322. Darel Valley 21 2 1 2 2623. Dir 1 124. Galiko 1 125. Gamkot 2 226. Gari Chingai 1 1

Chinar

S.No Reported Location

BlackSchist

GreenSchist

WhiteSchist

BlueSchis

t

TalcoseStone

SoapStone Stone Granit

eTerraCotta Stucco Silver Copper

Bone/

Shell

Iron

Antiquities

27. Garo 2 1 1 3 728. Garasa 1 129. Galooch 1 130. Ghaligai 1 7 1 931. Gogdara 1 5 1 1 1 932. Guligram 1 1 1 1 433. Gumbatuna 87 8 14 3 31 3 14634. Gumbat 144 10 2 2 3 16135. Gimbat 9 936. Harapkanchina 6 1 737. Jarjorai 2 5 738. Jambil Valley 1 4 539. Kabbal 2 240. Kalam (Rashnol) 2 241. Kambar 1 142. Kanjarkote 25 3 1 1 30

43. Khauttaro Mera (Pnar) 1 1

44. Karora/Karero 4 445. Khaimdare 1 146. Katelai 6 93 6 12 1 1 11947. Kota 4 448. Kotlai 1 2 349. Kutar 1 150. Kukarai 3 3

51. Landerai 1 6 752. Loeban 2 1 3

S,No Reported Location

BlackSchist

GreenSchist

WhiteSchist

BlueSchis

t

TalcoseStone

SoapStone

Stone

Granite

TerraCotta Stucco Silver Copper

Bone/

Shell

Iron

Antiquities

53. Loehanr 11 10 4 1 20 2 10 5854. Maglao 1 155. Makanbagh 1 156. Mandara 1 157. Manichinar 1 158. Mangalkot 1 159. Manglaore 1 160. Marjanai 1 1 261. Maylaor 1 162. Miana 1 163. Mingora 21 1 5 2764. Mora Bande 2 265. Nazahei 1 3 466. Nawagai 6 667. Nijigram 20 3 12 1 3668. Pnar 8 91 4 1 2 2 6 11469. Prantangai 3 370. Saidu 5 2 11 1 1971. Shandala 1 172. Shanash 1 9 1073. Shakardarra 1 1

74. Shakorai(Janabad) 3 1 4

75. Shang-lai 2 276. Shagai 1 3 2 677. Shinashi 3 3

78. Singardar 2 2

79. Singar 1 2 3

S.No Site BlackSchist

GreenSchist

White

Schist

BlueSchis

t

TalcoseStone

SoapStone Stone Granite Terra

Cotta Stucco Silver Copper Bone/shell

Iron

Antiquities

80. Sogolai 1 181. Swat 11 9 1 1 1 3 2682. Supalbandai 1 183. Talegram 1 184. Tokar 4 485. Tangir Valley 1 186. Tokardara 23 11 1 1 3 3987. Topardara 2 288. Tirat Stupa 1 189. Titabad 1 190. Udigram 3 4 1 891. Udigram Castle 3 2 592. Zawra 1 193. Peshawar 2 1 3

94. Chitral (Naghornuri) 12 4 1 1 18

95. Unknown 24 1 6 4 1 36

Grand Total: 538 460 5 53 8 3 86 2 311 47 1 56 13 8 1591

Varia Collection in Swat Museum Pakistan

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