Malda museum

stevec · Jul 15th, 2009, 14:35

Malda has a small, reasonably hard-to-find museum. It appears to be only infrequently visited, and grievously under-funded: a helpful staff member went with us from gallery to gallery, turning the lights on and off as we went. It was a pity we couldn't stay long, because the collection is just astonishingly good. How many small Indian cities have unrecognised gems of this type? I have been travelling in India since 1970, and still find these things. Shabash!

guest007 · Jul 17th, 2009, 02:00

You're lucky steve, I'm just 85KM away from that place and never know that there is such thing. We have business there and on average I go there 10 times each month.

alouise · Jul 17th, 2009, 03:10

Steve, thanks for that tip. I looked up the museum straight away, and read that it is an archaeological museum with sculptures dating from the 7 th century AD. Did you see lots of Budhha and Bodhisattva statues there?

guest007 · Jul 17th, 2009, 03:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by alouise

Did you see lots of Budhha and Bodhisattva statues there?

I don't think there would be many Budhha and Bodhisattva statues, because Buddhism hardly touched this region.

alouise · Jul 17th, 2009, 04:05

The area doesn't have to be a large buddhist establishment like Nalanda or Sarnath for statues of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to be uncovered in excavations. Find them in many places along the silk routes, and this would be close enough to the southern route going via Bangladesh. But let's ask Steve first, see what he says.

stevec · Jul 17th, 2009, 07:03

My understanding is that the region was a centre for Tantric Buddhism, and the Avalokitesvaras etc in the museum certainly suggest that. What was better was the range of Hindu deities represented - some in a superb state. They also suggested a left-handed vehicle. I would have liked to stay longer.

alouise · Jul 17th, 2009, 15:54

Thanks, Steve. Yes, Tantric Buddhism would be fairly typical of the area and period.

Jul 15th, 2009, 14:35	#1
stevec Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: eureka nsw australia Posts: 25	Malda museum Malda has a small, reasonably hard-to-find museum. It appears to be only infrequently visited, and grievously under-funded: a helpful staff member went with us from gallery to gallery, turning the lights on and off as we went. It was a pity we couldn't stay long, because the collection is just astonishingly good. How many small Indian cities have unrecognised gems of this type? I have been travelling in India since 1970, and still find these things. Shabash!

Jul 17th, 2009, 02:00	#2
guest007 Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: WB, India Posts: 11	You're lucky steve, I'm just 85KM away from that place and never know that there is such thing. We have business there and on average I go there 10 times each month. Last edited by guest007 : Jul 17th, 2009 at 03:32.

Jul 17th, 2009, 07:03	#6
stevec Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: eureka nsw australia Posts: 25	malda museum collection My understanding is that the region was a centre for Tantric Buddhism, and the Avalokitesvaras etc in the museum certainly suggest that. What was better was the range of Hindu deities represented - some in a superb state. They also suggested a left-handed vehicle. I would have liked to stay longer.

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Jul 17th, 2009, 03:10	#3
alouise Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: sydney Posts: 821	Steve, thanks for that tip. I looked up the museum straight away, and read that it is an archaeological museum with sculptures dating from the 7 th century AD. Did you see lots of Budhha and Bodhisattva statues there?

Jul 17th, 2009, 04:05	#5
alouise Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: sydney Posts: 821	The area doesn't have to be a large buddhist establishment like Nalanda or Sarnath for statues of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to be uncovered in excavations. Find them in many places along the silk routes, and this would be close enough to the southern route going via Bangladesh. But let's ask Steve first, see what he says.

Jul 17th, 2009, 15:54	#7
alouise Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: sydney Posts: 821	Thanks, Steve. Yes, Tantric Buddhism would be fairly typical of the area and period.