Paitava | |
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 The Twin Miracle of Water and Fire, found at Paitava monastery, 3rd century CE. | |
  Paitava Paitava Show map of South Asia Paitava Paitava (Afghanistan) Show map of Afghanistan | |
| Coordinates:34°53′00″N69°12′00″E / 34.883333°N 69.200000°E /34.883333; 69.200000 | |
| Country | Afghanistan |
Paitava was a Buddhist monastery located in modernAfghanistan. It was positioned together withShotorak monastery around the city ofKapisa, 40 km north ofKabul, which was the northern capital of theKushan Empire. Beautiful sculptures of Buddhist donors in Kushan dress are known from this site.[1] Several Kushan coins were found in the monastery, suggested an early Kushan occupation, but some of the Buddhist works, such asThe Twin Miracle of Water and Fire, may belong to the later period of theKidarites (320–467 CE).[2]
Paitava was also 7 km fromBegram. The monastery was visited by the 7th century Chinese pilgrimXuan Zang, who said it was near a large city namedSi-pi-to-la-fasse, the largest city in the Kapisa region.[3]
Paitava, with Shotorak, have an artistic usage of representing the Buddha with fire emanating from the shoulders in the miracle ofSravasti, a feature also found on the effigies of Kushan kings on their coinage.[4]
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Figure 104: Image pedestal with Maitreya flanked by two groups of Kushans. Paitava.
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