Buddhist era antiquities discovered

A preservation and restoration team of the department of archaeology has discovered as many as eight antiquities consisting fragments, including the sculpture of Buddha, god Indra and his bodyguard belonging to the first century AD. The antiquities have been discovered during the preservation work at the ancient and world famous archaeological site of the Gandhara Civilisation locally known as Dharmarajika stupa and monastery dated back to 3rd century BC to 5th century AD situated about 3.5 kilometers on north-east of Taxila Museum.
The officials of the department of archaeology sub regional office Taxila has confirmed that these antiquities include landmark, precious and rare discovery of a statue depicting "the re-appearance of Buddha."
According to the Buddhist mythology, Buddha would re-appear before the end of universe. The newly discovered fragment is depicting the same scene.
According to the archaeologists, a being destined developed into Buddha is called Bodhisattva. Properly Bodhisattva simply means a sentient or reasonable being. Bodhisattvas, like the Buddha, are honoured.
According to the Buddhist belief, another Buddha will come that is Maitreya, the future Buddha. At the specific time he will leave Tushita heaven and come upon the earth to establish the lost truths in their purity. He is the only Bodhisattva known to Hinayana and Mahayan sects of Buddhism. It is said that a monk artist inhabitant of Swat valley visited Tushita heaven, met with Bodhisattva Maitreya, came back and carved the image.
PRECIOUS DISCOVERY: Another precious and exclusive discovery is the statue of god Indra. The Indra god was the god of "nature" and according to the Buddhism mythology and Yedic Pantheon the thunder god Indra had attained a prominent position. Buddhist adopted into their mythology numerous gods but modified their characteristics and importance. At the time of the birth of Sidhartha (Buddha) he was present.
He visited Indrasala cave and put some philosophical questions, which the Buddha answered very easily, thus god Indra and Brahma entreated Buddha to start preaching of the Buddhism. Another remarkable discovery is the statue depicting the bodyguard of Buddha, which was named in Buddhism as VajraPani.
The fragment of Corinthian capital was also discovered. The Corinthian order was used in Magna, Garcia and Sicily from early third century pertaining to or designated the highest and most ornate of the three Greek orders. Its bell-shaped capital enveloped with acanthus leaves characterises it.
It became favourite order of the Romans. It said that a certain Greek sculptor got the inspiration after he saw a basketful of acanthus leaves over the grave of beautiful Corinthian girl.
Two female headless figures, one of which is depicted as dancing and three segments of relief of Buddha are also included in the new discoveries.
The archaeologists after the preliminary examination of these newly discovered antiquities here at sub-regional office (SRO) Taxila, said that these newly discovered fragments are made of grape black schist and green phylite. They viewed that these antiquities belong to early stage of fist century AD or second century AD.
The sites where these new discoveries have made also have significant status in Gandhra civilisation. The Dharmarajika stupa and monastery probably the earliest stupa in Pakistan. According to the archaeologists this stupa was founded by the Dharma Raja or the righteous king, Ashok of Mauryan dynasty, in the 3rd century BC.
This stupa was a source of inspiration and a place of attraction from the very begging of the Buddhism religion. This stupa was later re-constructed during the time of King Kanisha, in the 3rd century AD. This site was only once executed by Sir Johan Marshall in 1920s and a large number of precious antiquities, including fragments, were discovered. However, after that this site was never executed.