Aśvaghoṣa Between Gandhara and Kucha: The Śāriputraprakaraṇa and Its Narrative Expression in a Forgotten Slab from Mount Karamar

Abstract

The article suggests identifying two scenes on a Gandhara slab from Karamar with plays written by Aśvaghoṣa. One, preserved in the Berlin Turfan collection, is among the oldest known Indian theatre plays (Śāriputraprakaraṇa) focusing on the conversion of Śāriputra and Maudgalyāyana, two of the most important Buddhist monks certainly belonging to the 2nd century. The second scene shows the conversion of Nanda, the half-brother of the Buddha as described in the Saundarananda attributed to the same author. Attempts shall be made to identify the art historical templates and at the same time to trace its subtle iconography.