The Ancient Gandhara Civilization


Gandhara is the name of an ancient kingdom (Mahajanapada), located in modern day northern Pakistan and parts of eastern Afghanistan. The center of this Civilization is stretched from Kashmir to various areas of Texila.Its main cities were Purushapura (modern Peshawar and Takshashila (modernTaxila), now these cities in Pakistan. Texila was the center of Gandhara art. The Kingdom of Gandhara lasted from the early 1st millennium BC to the 11th century AD. It attained its height from the 1st century to the 5th century under the Buddhist Kushan Kings.
Ruins of Gandhara Civilization
The people living here were the followers of Buddhism. they worship the Statues of their religious persons. There are also a large number of grand statues, Buddha Stupas and ruins of Gandhara Civilization in Swat Valley, Takht bahi Mardan (Pakistan). A stupa named Nimogram stupa was prepared Swat Valley. After thousands of years its ruins are still spread everywhere in Swat Valley and Texila. Pilgrim of Buddha from all   over the world considered them sacred.
Jahan abad udha (Swat)













Nimogram Stupa (Swat)


   Gandhara Art is a collection of various Statues of Buddha and engraving of Buddha in stones. Gandhara is not only name of in art rather it reflects a whole Civilization. Earlier this art was under the influence of Greek fine art but later it got mixed with local arts. Greek art was tried to be molded according to the teaching of Buddha. Evidence of Stone Age human inhabitants of Gandhara, including stone tools and burnt bones, was discovered at “Takht Bahi” near Mardan (Pakistan). The artifacts are approximately 15,000 years old. This Civilization is primarily a symbol of human development in the area of human knowledge, religion, art and history for the world to come to great extent.
Dharamarajika Stupa (Texila)
The Gandharan Buddhist texts are both the earliest Buddhist and South Asian manuscripts discovered so far. Most are written on birch bark and were found in labeled clay pots. The region shows an influx of southern Central Asian culture in the Bronze Age with the Gandhara grave culture, likely corresponding to immigration of Indo-Aryan speakers and the nucleus of Vedic civilization. This culture survived till 1000 BC. Its evidence has been discovered in the hilly regions of Swat Valley and District Dir and even at Texila (Pakistan). The birth of Gautam Buddha, his starvation and his departure from place to place have been shown very beautifully in Gandhara Art. The most ancient University was established in Gandhara. Students from other countries also came there for study. Gandhara civilization is a very historic and interesting event in the ancient human history. In this civilization every aspect of life is covered very clearly and nicely.

Ruins of Takht Bahi (Mardan)

Script Gandhara Civilization
 

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