20/03/2026
Jaulian Buddhist Monastery remains from 2nd Century AD near the ancient Gandharan capital of Taxila.
Built nearly 2000 years ago, the site is a perfect example of the amalgation of Greek, Persian and Indian cultural influence, primarily expressing Buddha in meditative posture.
It is undeserving for the Gandharans that so few people know about their long-lasting cultural impact on portraying the Buddha in stone art. The current historical consensus agrees that it was the Gandharans who first started this tradition which then got transmitted and adopted into many other cultures and civilizations across later centuries.
All the Buddha statues around the world can be traced back to this particular culture back in time 2000 years ago. When classical European, Persian and Indian culture not only coexisted, but thrived and innovated to produce some of the finest religious artwork mankind has ever seen.
Fun fact: To portray the Buddha as a person, the facial model used by the Gandharans was Alexander the Great himself, who managed to conquer and unite the lands all the way up to the Indus Valley from Macedonia. Alexander the Great was considered at the time to be the counterpart of the Buddha, owing to the prophecy by the brahmins at Siddhartha's cradle - he will either become king of kings, conqueror of the world, or the great liberator who overcomes all suffering.
It was truly a privilege to have the opportunity to visit this place in Pakistan, and as I learned later there were many more surprises waiting ahead.
September 2024
