Chausa hoard
Set of Jain sculptures
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The Chausa hoard is a collection of ancient Jain Bronze sculptures. It is named after the location of the discovery: Chausa (also known as Chausagarh), which is located in the Buxar district of Bihar state, India.
Rishabhadeva, Bronze from Chausa, Bihar | |
  Chausa hoard Shown within Bihar  Chausa hoard Chausa hoard (India) | |
| Coordinates | 25.5075447°N 83.8823147°E |
|---|---|
History
The Chausa hoard was the first known bronze hoard discovered in the Gangetic valley and consists of a set of 18 bronze sculptures.[1] The oldest of such bronzes to be found in India, experts date them between the Shunga and the Gupta period, (from 2nd, or possibly the 1st century BC,[2] to the 6th Century AD).[citation needed]
In his classification of Jain bronzes, Patrick Krueger regards them to be early type, characterized by portrayal of a single Tirthankara without a parikara.[3]
Major Idols
The hoard includes a Dharmachakra showing Dharmachakra supported by two yakshis supported by makaras; a kalpavriksha and sixteen tirthankaras.[4] Among the tirthankaras, those of Rishabha are easily identified by the locks of hair.[5] The bronzes currently reside in the Patna Museum.[citation needed]
Related Discoveries
Other well-known hoards of Jain bronzes include Akota Bronzes, found in Gujarat; Vasantgarh hoard, found in Vasantgarh; Hansi hoard, found in Haryana; and Aluara bronzes, found in Bihar.[citation needed]
Gallery
Rishabhadeva, Bronze from Chausa, Bihar
See also
