A Unique Bodhisattva Head from Mathurā
By Lalit Kumar
Summary
This short note describes a sculpted head of a Bodhisattva discovered in Mathurā, an ancient art centre. The author provides details of the piece’s material, dimensions and stylistic features, noting its serene expression, elaborate turban and traces of original pigment. It compares the sculpture with dated examples from the Kushan and Gupta periods to propose a late Kushan attribution. The essay highlights the blending of Gandhāran and indigenous styles in Mathurā art, visible in the treatment of facial features and ornamentation. The significance of the find for understanding regional Buddhist art is emphasised, along with a call for further study of similar pieces.
Conclusion
By documenting this Bodhisattva head, the note enriches our knowledge of Mathurā’s sculptural repertoire. It underscores the importance of field discoveries in refining chronologies of Buddhist art.