imported>KashKarti at 21:46, 18 July 2021

2021-07-18T21:46:42Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox artifact
|image = [[File:Patna Museum Lohanipur torso.jpg|250px]]
|name = Lohanipur torso
|image_caption = Lohanipur torso, [[Patna Museum]].
|material = Polished [[sandstone]]
|size =
|writing =
|created =
|period = 3rd century BCE ~ 2nd century CE
|place = Lohanipur, [[Patna]], [[Bihar]], [[India]].
|discovered_coords ={{coord|25.606366|85.154401|display=inline, title}}
|location = [[Patna Museum]], [[India]]
| map =
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|lat_dir = N
|lon_deg = 85
|lon_min = 09
|lon_sec = 15.8
|lon_dir = E
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The '''Lohanipur torso''' is a damaged statue of polished sandstone, dated to the 3rd century BCE ~ 2nd century CE, found in Lohanipur village, a central Division of [[Patna]], ancient [[Pataliputra]], [[Bihar]], [[India]].{{Sfn|Olivelle|2006|p=399}} There are some claims however for a later date (not earlier than the [[Kushan Empire|Kushana period]]), as well as of [[Graeco-Roman]] influence in the sculpting.{{Sfn|Pereira|2001|p=11}}The Lohanipur torso is thought to represent a [[Jainism|Jaina]] [[Tirthankara]].{{Sfn|Shah|1995|p=15}}

[[K. P. Jayaswal]] and [[Madhusudan Dhaky|M. A. Dhaky]] have regarded this to be the earliest Jain sculpture found.{{sfn|Cort|2010|pp=32-33}} The [[Didarganj Yakshi]] is another polished statue from Patna whose date is disputed, with the possible range between the [[Mauryan]] and [[Kushan]] periods.

== Finding ==
The 2-foot torso is one of the two found in 1937 in an area of Patna. The smaller torso is one foot tall.{{sfn|Cort|2010|pp=32-33}} Historian K.P. Jayaswal reported that the excavation of the site revealed a Mauryan coin and a number of Mauryan bricks from a square shaped temple, suggesting the torso is from the Mauryan period.

== Description ==
The Lohanipur torso is thought to represent a [[Jainism|Jaina]] [[Tirthankara]].{{Sfn|Shah|1995|p=15}} The statue is an outstanding example of [[Mauryan polish]], an advanced polishing technique essentially characteristic of the [[Mauryan Empire]], which almost fell out of use after that period, although, if it is of a later date, it might suggest that polishing techniques survived the Mauryan era.{{Sfn|Pereira|2001|p=10}}

== Comparison with the Harappa torso ==

The Lohanipur torso bears a striking resemblance with the [[:File:Harappa_male_torso.jpg|Harappan jasper torso]] excavated in the 1928/29 season by [[Madho Sarup Vats]], to the south of the "Great Granary" at [[Harappa]]. This ought to belong to the Mature [[Harappa]]n period based on the dating of the site strata, but its date is questioned or disputed by scholars such as the British archaeologists [[Mortimer Wheeler]] or [[John Marshall (archaeologist)|John Marshall]], who suggested a historical period, probably [[Gupta Empire|Gupta]] (circa 500 CE).{{Sfn|Possehl|2002|p=112}}{{Sfn|McIntosh|2008|p=281}} In 2002, the anthropologist [[Gregory Possehl]] commented that "it seems reasonable" that the piece belongs to the Mature Harappan period, exhibiting "the heights to which Indus artists could reach".{{Sfn|Possehl|2002|pp=111–112}} In that case, the Harappa torso would date to 2300–1750 BCE.{{Sfn|Honour|Fleming|2005|p=65}}

{{Multiple image
| align = center
| direction =
| total_width = 450
| image1 = Harappa male torso.jpg
| caption1 = Harappa male torso from various angles.
| image2 = Male torso Lohanipur Pataliputra Mauryan art.jpg
| caption2 = The Lohanipur torse from various angles
}}

== See also ==
* [[Kankali Tila]]
* [[Patna Museum]]
* [[Chausa hoard]]
* [[Kankali Tila tablet of Sodasa]]

==References==
=== Citation ===
{{reflist}}

=== Sources ===
* {{citation |last=Cort |first=John E. |author-link=John E. Cort | title=Framing the Jina: Narratives of Icons and Idols in Jain History |url={{Google books|0IF2CAAAQBAJ|page=|plainurl=yes}} |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |date=2010 |orig-year=1953 |isbn=978-0-19-538502-1 }}
* {{citation |last1=Honour |first1=Hugh | author-link1=Hugh Honour |last2=Fleming |first2=John | author-link2=John Fleming (art historian) |title=A World History of Art | edition=7th | orig-date=1982 |date=2005 |publisher=[[Laurence King Publishing]] |isbn=9781856694513 |url={{Google books|qGb4pyoseH4C|page=|plainurl=yes}} |language=en}}
* {{citation |last=McIntosh |first=Jane | author-link=Jane McIntosh |title=The Ancient Indus Valley: New Perspectives | series=Understanding ancient civilizations |date=2008 |publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]] |isbn=9781576079072 |url={{Google books|1AJO2A-CbccC|page=|plainurl=yes}}|language=en}}
* {{citation |last=Olivelle |first=Patrick | author-link=Patrick Olivelle |title=Between the Empires: Society in India 300 BCE to 400 CE |date=2006 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=9780199775071 |url={{Google books|efaOR_-YsIcC|page=|plainurl=yes}}|language=en}}
* {{citation |last=Pereira |first=Jose | author-link=José Pereira (scholar) |title=Monolithic Jinas |date=2001 |publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]] |isbn=9788120823976 |url={{Google books|LMTgiygj4-oC|page=|plainurl=yes}} |language=en}}
* {{citation |last=Possehl |first=Gregory L. | author-link=Gregory Possehl |title=The Indus Civilization: A Contemporary Perspective |date=2002 |publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield|Rowman Altamira]] |isbn=9780759101722 |url={{Google books|pmAuAsi4ePIC|page=|plainurl=yes}} |language=en}}
* {{citation |last=Shah |first=Umakant Premanand |author-link=Umakant Premanand Shah |title=Studies in Jaina Art and Iconography and Allied Subjects in Honour of Dr. U.P. Shah |date=1995 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |isbn=9788170173168 |url={{Google books|fETebHcHKogC|page=|plainurl=yes}} |language=en}}

== External links ==
* {{commonscatinline|Lohanipur torso}}

{{Jainism topics|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Patna]]
[[Category:Sculptures from Bihar]]
[[Category:Jain sculptures]]
[[Category:History of Jainism]]
[[Category:Mauryan art]]
[[Category:Statues in Bihar]]

Lohanipur torso - Revision history

imported>KashKarti at 21:46, 18 July 2021