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PM Narendra Modi to bring home 157 artefacts, antiquities handed over to him by US

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on a 3-day visit to the US, will bring 157 artefacts and antiquities to India. During their meet, PM Modi and POTUS Joe Biden committed to strengthen their efforts to combat the theft, illicit trade and trafficking of cultural objects.

PM Narendra Modi observes artefacts

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PM Narendra Modi observes artefacts

PM Modi were handed over 157 artefacts and antiquities by the US. The PM conveyed his deep appreciation for the repatriation of antiquities to India by the United States.

PM Modi to return with 157 artefacts from US

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PM Modi to come back with 157 artefacts from US

The list of 157 artefacts includes items ranging from the one and a half metre bas relief panel of Revanta in sandstone of the 10th CE to the 8.5cm tall, exquisite bronze Nataraja from the 12th CE. The items mostly belong to the period of 11th CE to 14th CE as well as historic antiquities such as the copper anthropomorphic object of 2000BC or the terracotta vase from the 2nd CE. Around 45 of these antiquities belong to Before Common Era. 

 

Seated Buddha from 7th-8th Century CE

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Seated Buddha from 7th-8th Century CE

While 71 of the artefacts are cultural, 60 consists of figurines that relate to Hinduism 60, 16 to Buddhism and 9 to Jainism. Their make spreads across metal, stone and terracotta.

 

Standing Buddha

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Standing Buddha

The bronze collection primarily contains ornate figurines of the well-known postures of Lakshmi Narayana, Buddha, Vishnu, Siva Parvathi and the 24 Jain Tirthankaras and the less common Kankalamurti, Brahmi and Nandikesa besides other unnamed deities and divine figures. 

 

Male figures standing on a cornerstone

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Male figures standing on a cornerstone

The motifs include religious sculptures from Hinduism (Three headed Brahma, Chariot Driving Surya, Vishnu and his Consorts, Siva as Dakshinamurti, Dancing Ganesha etc), Buddhism (Standing Buddha, Boddhisattva Majushri, Tara) and Jainism (Jain Tirthankara, Padmasana Tirthankara, Jaina Choubisi) as well as secular motifs (Amorphous couple in Samabhanga, Chowri Bearer, Female playing drum etc).

 

Four-armed Lord Vishnu made of bronze

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Four armed Vishnu made of bronze

There are 56 terracotta pieces (Vase 2nd CE, Pair of Deer 12th CE, Bust of Female 14th CE) and an 18th CE sword with sheath with inscription mentioning Guru Hargovind Singh in Persian). 

 

 

Three Tirthankaras from 15th Century CE

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Three Tirthankaras from 15th Century CE

This continues the efforts by the Modi Government to bring back our antiquities and artefacts from across the world.

 

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