Tracing our roots
Photographer and filmmaker Benoy Behl works in close association with UNESCO and has also found a place in the Limca Book of World Records.
Photographer and filmmaker Benoy Behl has spent about 28 years researching on Buddhism and Indian heritage. He works in close association with UNESCO and also finds a place in the Limca Book of World Records for “visiting every corner of India and taking 30,000 pictures of Indian heritage.”
In his upcoming exhibition that will be held on September 24 in New Delhi, Benoy proves that Kashmir, especially Srinagar, was a centre of Buddhism. Kashmiri artists were invited to make, paint and sculpt the original chain of 108 monasteries initiated by Rinchen Zangpo.
Benoy says, “Emperor Kanish who ruled Kashmir in 1st Century AD was a great connoisseur of Buddhism. In fact four great Buddhist counsels at that time had taken place in a site called Harwan which is just outside Srinagar. It was in Kashmir that for the first time Mahayana Buddhism ever got a royal patronage and it was given by Emperor Kanish. From there, Kashmir Buddhism was spread to Central Asia, China, Korea and also Japan,” he says.
He adds, “Kumarajiva which is a very important name in Buddhism is the son of a Kashmiri pandit named Kumarayana of the 4th century. Kumarayana was married to Princess Jiva of Kutha (Babylon). Princess Jiva got her son Kumarajiva to Kashmir and he spent 30 years here studying Buddhism. When Kumarajiva went back to Kutha, he became very famous and was considered a great translator of Buddhist scriptures.
The stupa site of Kashmir such as Barihaspura of the 8th century would have been the models of many stupas across Central Asia. The colossal Buddha sculptures made by Kashmiri artists on cliff faces of Ladakh from 7th century to 9th century were made by Kashmiri artists.”
In his upcoming exhibition that will be held on September 24 in New Delhi, Benoy proves that Kashmir, especially Srinagar, was a centre of Buddhism. Kashmiri artists were invited to make, paint and sculpt the original chain of 108 monasteries initiated by Rinchen Zangpo.
Benoy says, “Emperor Kanish who ruled Kashmir in 1st Century AD was a great connoisseur of Buddhism. In fact four great Buddhist counsels at that time had taken place in a site called Harwan which is just outside Srinagar. It was in Kashmir that for the first time Mahayana Buddhism ever got a royal patronage and it was given by Emperor Kanish. From there, Kashmir Buddhism was spread to Central Asia, China, Korea and also Japan,” he says.
He adds, “Kumarajiva which is a very important name in Buddhism is the son of a Kashmiri pandit named Kumarayana of the 4th century. Kumarayana was married to Princess Jiva of Kutha (Babylon). Princess Jiva got her son Kumarajiva to Kashmir and he spent 30 years here studying Buddhism. When Kumarajiva went back to Kutha, he became very famous and was considered a great translator of Buddhist scriptures.
The stupa site of Kashmir such as Barihaspura of the 8th century would have been the models of many stupas across Central Asia. The colossal Buddha sculptures made by Kashmiri artists on cliff faces of Ladakh from 7th century to 9th century were made by Kashmiri artists.”