Jatakas In South Indian Art

Book Details

Author: Dr. B. Subrahmanyam
Publisher: Bharatiya Kala Prakashan
Language: English
Edition: 1st
ISBN: 8180900428
Pages: 244
Cover: Hardcover
Dimensions: 11.00 x 9.00 inches
Weight: 1.30 kg
Year of Publication: 2005

This volume offers a detailed visual and scholarly exploration of Jataka stories—narratives of the Buddha’s former lives—as depicted in ancient Indian sculpture. Focused particularly on the South Indian context, the book emphasizes the rich iconographic tradition where artists communicated moral and ethical teachings through stone carvings, often found in Buddhist sites.

Despite several panels being documented in excavation reports and scholarly articles, many remain unidentified or unexplored. This work attempts to bridge that gap, making it a significant contribution to the study of Buddhist art and narrative traditions.

About the Author:
Dr. B. Subrahmanyam, born in 1950 in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, is an expert in Ancient Indian History, Culture, and Archaeology. Since joining the Department of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Andhra Pradesh in 1975, he has played a key role in numerous excavations, conservation projects, and temple relocations. He earned his Ph.D. from Mysore University in 1986 and is currently serving as Assistant Director, overseeing excavations and museums.

A prolific researcher and author, Dr. Subrahmanyam has contributed extensively to scholarly journals and written several important books on Buddhist archaeology and iconography. He is widely recognized for his discovery of Buddhist relic caskets at Bavikonda in 1993, for which he received accolades from the Government of Andhra Pradesh. His ongoing work continues to shed light on the Buddhist heritage of Andhra Pradesh and beyond.