In September this year an e-mail alert was sent out regarding the theft
of two Buddhist sculptures from Bilhari, district Katni, in Madhya
Pradesh, in 07. With that a photograph of one of the two sculptures
stolen and its police particulars were given.
With this present e-mail a photograph of the other Buddha image in
Bhumisparshamudra from the same place is attached, as supplied by the
ASI’s Bhopal Circle. The sandstone sculpture measures 97 x 66 x 27 cm
and is datable to the late tenth century. A thunderbolt is carved under
the seat; two lions and four human worshippers are also under the seat.
Bilhari was an important centre for religion and art under the Haihayas
or Kalachuris of Tripuri (the Jabalpur area), where all major religions
Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Jainism and Buddhism flourished. Tapsi Math, from
where the thefts happened, is a monument of national importance
protected by ASI.
Such scenes were often represented in North and East India, but in this
part of central India they are less often to be seen.
The sculpture was in three pieces, which were joined together, as per
information supplied by ASI Bhopal. Both steles were stolen in the night
of 21 January 07. The thefts were reported to the Kuthla police
station under FIR No. 0/07 of 21 January 07. INTERPOL and other
international security agencies have been alerted. There is information
that both the sculptures have been illegally exported from India.
The Buddha was stolen from a centrally protected site. Photographs exist
with ASI. Anyone who perpetrated this crime and exported the sculpture
should know that he cannot fabricate false provenance for a piece whose
picture is now going into circulation. Potential purchasers are also
cautioned.
If any museum, private collector or dealer has acquired this Buddha,
they are advised to give up possession at once, inform either INTERPOL,
the local police, or the ASI in New Delhi or Bhopal. If anyone has
acquired this piece even in innocence, whether in India or abroad, he
knows now that it is an illegally removed antiquity protected under
Indian laws, which forbid removal/export of antiquities.
If you have any information on these stolen antiquities, please contact INTERPOL, the local police, ASI in New Delhi or Bhopal, or Buddhist Art News.
In the past smuggled antiquities were traced with the support of
conscientious scholars and individuals. If you co-operate, this Buddha
can also be traced and repatriated. One way in which you can support
this effort is by saving this and other such messages in a special
folder and by forwarding them.
For your reference, the earlier mail also follows this one.
Thank you.
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This message comes with the photograph of the Buddha in Bhumisparshamudra, “Calling the Earth to Witness” that he had indeed attained Enlightenment. The sculpture comes from the Tapsi Math at Bilhari in the Katni district of Madhya Pradesh, which is a site of national importance under the protection of the Bhopal Circle of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
The red sandstone stele, whose photograph is supplied by the Bhopal Circle, measures 55 x 37 x 18 cm, as informed by ASI Bhopal. It shows the Buddha seated with his legs crossed, his right hand touching the earth under his seat and the left resting in his lap. A thunderbolt and a small female figure are under the seat. Other figures and celestials surround the central figure. On top is the reclining Buddha suggestive of his Parinirvana or Final Extinction.
The stele is datable to the late tenth century. Bilhari was an important centre for religion and art under the Haihayas or Kalachuris of Tripuri (the Jabalpur area), where places of worship of all major religions Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Jainism and Buddhism were built.
Such scenes from the life of the Buddha were often represented in North and East India, but in this part of central India they are less often to be seen. (See Susan L. Huntington, The Art of Ancient India, New York 1993, p. 397, Fig. 18. 10, for a more elaborate tenth century Pala stele from Nalanda.)
The stele was stolen in the night of 21 January 2007. The theft has been reported to the Kuthla police station under FIR No. 0/07 of 21 January 2007. INTERPOL and other international security agencies have been alerted. There is information that the sculpture has been illegally exported from India.
The Buddha was stolen from its in situ position from a centrally protected site. Photographs exist with ASI where the sculpture is in its original place. Anyone who perpetrated this crime and exported the sculpture should know that he cannot fabricate false provenance for such a documented piece whose picture is now going into circulation. Potential purchasers are also cautioned.
If any museum, private collector or dealer has acquired this Buddha, they are advised to relinquish possession at once, inform either INTERPOL, or the ASI in New Delhi or Bhopal, or their local police authorities. If anyone has received this piece even in innocence, he knows now that it is an illegally exported antiquity protected under the Indian laws, which forbid such exports.
If you have any information on these stolen antiquities, please contact INTERPOL, the local police, ASI in New Delhi or Bhopal, or Buddhist Art News.
In the past smuggled antiquities could be traced with the support of conscientious scholars and individuals like you. If you co-operate, this Buddha can also be traced and repatriated. One way in which you can support this effort is by saving this and other such messages in a special folder and by forwarding them.
Thank you.
Buddhist Art News 