Headless statue of Kanishka
Also called: Mathura sculpture of Kanishka, Headless Kanishka statue · Topic: Early Indian Art and Architecture: Stupas, Rock-cut Caves, Temples · NCERT: Class 7, Ch 6 "The Age of Reorganisation"
Meaning
This is a large red sandstone statue of the Kushana king Kanishka, who ruled c. 2nd century CE. The head is missing. It was found at Mat, near Mathura (Uttar Pradesh). The king wears Central Asian dress: a long tunic, heavy boots, and a big sword at his side. An inscription calls him maharaja rajatiraja devaputra Kanishka, meaning "great king, king of kings, son of god". The statue shows how the Kushanas presented themselves as almost divine rulers.
Example
The statue is now in the Government Museum, Mathura. It belongs to the Mathura school, which used local red sandstone. Kanishka's coins similarly carry the Buddha ("BODDO" in Greek script) and Shiva with Nandi.
Don't confuse with
- Gandhara sculpture: the Kanishka statue is Mathura work in red sandstone. Gandhara images of the same period were carved in grey-black schist in a Greco-Roman style.
Related concepts
- Gandhara school of art
- Mathura school of art
- Ardhanarishvara
- Amaravati school of art
- Takshashila University