Kunala Stupa

Kunala Stupa
General view of Kunala Stupa today.
Shown within Pakistan
Basic information
Location Pakistan
Geographic coordinates 33°45′02″N 72°49′50″E / 33.750424°N 72.830479°E / 33.750424; 72.830479Coordinates: 33°45′02″N 72°49′50″E / 33.750424°N 72.830479°E / 33.750424; 72.830479
Affiliation Buddhism
Region Gandhara
Year consecrated 2nd century CE
Ecclesiastical or organizational status Stupa ruins
Status Artifacts removed

Kunala Stupa is a Buddhist stupa and monastery complex to the south-east of Taxila, on a hill about 200 meters just south of Sirkap, Pakistan, thought to date to the 2nd century CE.[1] It is located on a hill overlooking the ancient Indo-Greek city of Sirkap.[2]

Its name come from Kunala, a son of Ashoka.[3] Kunala, the legitimate heir to the throne had been blinded by one of Ashoka's queens, Tishyaksha, due to jealousy for his beautiful eyes. After years of wandering, Kunala reutnited with his father Ashoka, and was treated by a doctor from Taxila.[1][4]

Buddhist pilgrims with eye imparement came to the stupa with the hope of being cured.[1]

The Kunala stupa was visited by the Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang, who wrote an account of it.[1][4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Marshall, Sir John Hubert (1951). Taxila: An Illustrated Account of Archaeological Excavations. CUP Archive. p. 348.
  2. ↑ Boda, Sharon La (1995). International Dictionary of Historic Places: Asia and Oceania. Taylor & Francis. p. 807. ISBN 9781884964046.
  3. ↑ Samad, Rafi U. (2011). The Grandeur of Gandhara: The Ancient Buddhist Civilization of the Swat, Peshawar, Kabul and Indus Valleys. Algora Publishing. p. 160. ISBN 9780875868585.
  4. 1 2 Wriggins, Sally (2008). The Silk Road Journey With Xuanzang. Basic Books. p. 171. ISBN 9780786725441.
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