The Embassy of Pakistan organised the launching of book on Pakistan’s Buddhist heritage in Nepali language. The book titled ‘Pakistanka Boudha Sampadhaharu’ was authored by Om Charan Amatya.
Bhim Prasad Acharya, MP (CPN-UML) had attended the event as Chief Guest. Venerable monks and Buddhist scholars, political leaders, journalists, civil society members and officials of Pakistan Embassy and their families also attended the event. Moreover, various universities and think tanks of Pakistan attended the event online. This was mentioned in the press release issued by the Embassy of Pakistan in Kathmandu.
MP Bhim Acharya, on the occasion, highlighted the significance of cultural heritage as an important facet of P2P contacts. He termed the Buddhist heritage as a shared legacy of Pakistan and Nepal, the friendly countries. Acharya also emphasized on the need for enhancing P2P connectivity to further promote the cultural heritages.
Earlier, the author of the book, in his remarks, highlighted revered sites in Pakistan, their links to Nepal and potential for spiritual and cultural value for the Nepalis and Buddhists across the world. Abrar H. Hashmi, Ambassador of Pakistan to Nepal said that Pakistan takes pride in its cultural heritage, has preserved it and wants to share it both as an emotional experience with the followers and tourists alike. He commended Om Charan Amatya for his meticulous work in highlighting the profound historical and cultural ties between Pakistan and Nepal. He hoped that book would go a long way in reaching to Nepali readers and bring deeper understanding and quest for research, pilgrimage and travel.
A. Imran Shaukat, Ambassador on Buddhist Heritage Promotion for Pakistan addressed virtually and shared information and activities of “Pakistan’s Buddhist Heritage Promotion Initiative.”
Buddhism in Pakistan took root some 2,300 years ago under the Maurayan king Ashoka who sent missionaries to the Kashmira – Gandhara region of North West Pakistan extending into Afghanistan. So Buddhism first reached what is now Pakistan during Ashoka’s reign when he sent a monk from Varanasi called Majihantika to preach in Kashmir and Gandhara.
The major rock edicts of Ashoka inscribed on rock boulders in Mansehra and Shahbaz Garhi written in the Kahroshi script recording aspects of the emperor’s dharma or righteous law represent some of the earliest evidence of deciphered writing in South Asia, dating to middle of the third century BCE. The Indo-Greek king Menander embraced Buddhism as attested in the Milinda Panha, which dates from sometime between 100 BC and 200 AD, following a dialogue with the monk Nagasena in Sagala, present-day Sialkot. Mahayana Buddhism, one of the most prominent branches of Buddhism today, is believed to have been originated in the region of Gandhara, although its total number of confirmed Buddhists is a fraction of what it was. In the Gandhara region, Greco-Buddhist art and sculptures flourished.
Buddhism thrived until the 6th century, when the religion began to decline after the invasion by Alchon Huns, until by the end of the 14th century, Buddhism had largely disappeared following the Muslim conquests in the Indian subcontinent.
Pakistan has been cradle of Buddhist art and culture and the second holy land of Buddhism for well over a thousand years. The religious faith has marked the most significant epoch in the history of the cultural and social evolution in the subcontinent. Indeed, it has been one of the greatest spiritual experiences the world has ever seen and which have left behind one of the finest manifestation in the domain of art and culture. The advent and development of Buddhism owes a great deal to the ancient land of Pakistan. It was here that the religious activities reached its climax through well-organized missionaries and ultimately made it a world religion. The land of Gandhara where the celebrated faith evolved, is more or less a triangle about 100 kilometers across east to west and 70 kilometers from north to south, on the west of the Indus river. It is surrounded on three sides by mountains. It covers the vast areas of today’s Peshawar valley, the hilly tracts of Swat (Udyana), Buner and the Taxila valley. Buddhism left a monumental and rich legacy of art and architecture in Pakistan. Despite the vagaries of centuries, the Gandhara region preserved a lot of the heritage in craft and art. Much of this legacy is visible even today in Pakistan.The Embassy of Pakistan organised the launching of book on Pakistan’s Buddhist heritage in Nepali language. The book titled ‘Pakistanka Boudha Sampadhaharu’ was authored by Om Charan Amatya.
Bhim Prasad Acharya, MP (CPN-UML) had attended the event as Chief Guest. Venerable monks and Buddhist scholars, political leaders, journalists, civil society members and officials of Pakistan Embassy and their families also attended the event. Moreover, various universities and think tanks of Pakistan attended the event online. This was mentioned in the press release issued by the Embassy of Pakistan in Kathmandu.
MP Bhim Acharya, on the occasion, highlighted the significance of cultural heritage as an important facet of P2P contacts. He termed the Buddhist heritage as a shared legacy of Pakistan and Nepal, the friendly countries. Acharya also emphasized on the need for enhancing P2P connectivity to further promote the cultural heritages.
Earlier, the author of the book, in his remarks, highlighted revered sites in Pakistan, their links to Nepal and potential for spiritual and cultural value for the Nepalis and Buddhists across the world. Abrar H. Hashmi, Ambassador of Pakistan to Nepal said that Pakistan takes pride in its cultural heritage, has preserved it and wants to share it both as an emotional experience with the followers and tourists alike. He commended Om Charan Amatya for his meticulous work in highlighting the profound historical and cultural ties between Pakistan and Nepal. He hoped that book would go a long way in reaching to Nepali readers and bring deeper understanding and quest for research, pilgrimage and travel.
A. Imran Shaukat, Ambassador on Buddhist Heritage Promotion for Pakistan addressed virtually and shared information and activities of “Pakistan’s Buddhist Heritage Promotion Initiative.”
Buddhism in Pakistan took root some 2,300 years ago under the Maurayan king Ashoka who sent missionaries to the Kashmira – Gandhara region of North West Pakistan extending into Afghanistan. So Buddhism first reached what is now Pakistan during Ashoka’s reign when he sent a monk from Varanasi called Majihantika to preach in Kashmir and Gandhara.
The major rock edicts of Ashoka inscribed on rock boulders in Mansehra and Shahbaz Garhi written in the Kahroshi script recording aspects of the emperor’s dharma or righteous law represent some of the earliest evidence of deciphered writing in South Asia, dating to middle of the third century BCE. The Indo-Greek king Menander embraced Buddhism as attested in the Milinda Panha, which dates from sometime between 100 BC and 200 AD, following a dialogue with the monk Nagasena in Sagala, present-day Sialkot. Mahayana Buddhism, one of the most prominent branches of Buddhism today, is believed to have been originated in the region of Gandhara, although its total number of confirmed Buddhists is a fraction of what it was. In the Gandhara region, Greco-Buddhist art and sculptures flourished.
Buddhism thrived until the 6th century, when the religion began to decline after the invasion by Alchon Huns, until by the end of the 14th century, Buddhism had largely disappeared following the Muslim conquests in the Indian subcontinent.
Pakistan has been cradle of Buddhist art and culture and the second holy land of Buddhism for well over a thousand years. The religious faith has marked the most significant epoch in the history of the cultural and social evolution in the subcontinent. Indeed, it has been one of the greatest spiritual experiences the world has ever seen and which have left behind one of the finest manifestation in the domain of art and culture. The advent and development of Buddhism owes a great deal to the ancient land of Pakistan. It was here that the religious activities reached its climax through well-organized missionaries and ultimately made it a world religion. The land of Gandhara where the celebrated faith evolved, is more or less a triangle about 100 kilometers across east to west and 70 kilometers from north to south, on the west of the Indus river. It is surrounded on three sides by mountains. It covers the vast areas of today’s Peshawar valley, the hilly tracts of Swat (Udyana), Buner and the Taxila valley. Buddhism left a monumental and rich legacy of art and architecture in Pakistan. Despite the vagaries of centuries, the Gandhara region preserved a lot of the heritage in craft and art. Much of this legacy is visible even today in Pakistan.
