Buddhist Art from Kashmir at the Metropolitan Museum, New York

**Reliquary(?) with Scenes from the Life of Buddha**

Kashmir was at one time one of the great centers of Buddhist learning and it was from Kashmir that Buddhism spread Northwards into Ladakh and Central Asia and subsequently to Tibet and China. The Metropolitan Museum in New York has a fine collection of Kashmiri Buddhist artworks.

One of the most priceless treasures on display is a 9th Century metal “Vaishnava Avatar” frame which is a Prabhavali of bronze metal alloy measuring 6’4″ in height and 4′ wide and 1’2″ thick weighing almost 100 kgs excavated from Devsara. As the name suggests it shows various Avatars of Vishnu. Devsara, which is in Kulgam district had been in the past a great center for the casting of Bronze images and other metal works.