#gandhara

[fuckyeahchinesefashion]

Chinese restaurants launched desserts based on anthropomorphic urn (A human-faced terracotta urn from the 2nd millennium BCE in today's Pakistan, belonging to the Gandhara Grave Culture (c. 1600-500 BCE), which was prevalent in the Swat Valley.)

[along-the-silkroad]

Siddhartha at the Bodhi Tree, 100s–200s CE, Gandhara, Pakistan. Cleveland Museum of Art (ID: 1997.151) The tree under which the Buddha reached enlightenment marks the center of the composition. It had been under worship by local villagers, for it was known to be the residence of a nature divinity, who here emerges from the tree and altar to praise the Buddha. The altar itself is covered with kusha grass used in the context of sacrificial offerings. At the base of the altar, the earth goddess has risen from the ground and kneels before him in reverence. (Cleveland Museum of Art)

[bronzeageecho]

head of an adorant | c. 201-500 CE | gandhara (either afghanistan or pakistan)

in the art institute of chicago collection

[whencyclopedia]

The prince Siddhartha secretly leaves the palace of his father. Not to wake the sleeping inhabitants of the palace, yakshas lift his horse on its hooves and carry it above the ground. Gandhara region, Pakistan, 3rd / 4th century CE. Exhibited at Museum Rietberg, Zurich, Switzerland.

[lionofchaeronea]

Sculpture (schist) of the seated Buddha, made in the 2nd or 3rd century CE by an artist active in present-day Pakistan, then part of the Kushan Empire. The sculpture is representative of the Gandhara style, also known as Greco-Buddhist, which resulted from the fusion of Hellenistic Greek influences brought eastward by Alexander the Great's conquests with native artistic traditions of central and southern Asia.

Now in the Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo, Japan.

[yoursdrs]

I think we can all agree that Gandhar Raj, Shakuni, was the smartest, the wisest, the most cunning and perhaps the only one in the Mahabharata who consistently used his brain. While everyone else was drowning in ego, vows, pride, or blind loyalty, he was thinking ten steps ahead.

The only person he never managed to outwit was Vasudev Krishna, and that makes sense. You can’t outplay the Almighty. If anything, I’ve always felt Krishna saw him as the only real intellectual threat in the room and admired him for it. The only opponent worth strategising against.

Because let’s be honest, Shakuni shaped everything. He nudged Duryodhana’s insecurities, exploited Dhritarashtra’s blindness (in every sense), manipulated situations, and practically orchestrated the fall of an entire dynasty. He understood people. He understood weakness. He understood timing.

Bhishma had principles but no flexibility. Drona had skill but no moral courage. Vidura had wisdom but no power. They all had moments where you just want to shake them and say, “use your damn brain dude!”

But Shakuni? He was always thinking. His only flaw wasn’t intelligence; it was intent. He was bitter. Vengeful. Self-serving. He didn’t just want to win; he wanted destruction. And that’s what ultimately makes him tragic than admirable.

[h0bg0blin-meat]

Gandharan Athena/Minerva

[baebeylik]

The Conception of the Buddha-to-be in Queen Maya's dream. Gandhara region of Pakistan. 100-300 CE.

Asian Art Museum, California.