Government Museum, Mathura

The museum in Mathura was conceived and established in 1874 by F S Growse, the then collector. Originally called the Curzon Museum of Archaeology, the name changed to Government Museum after it celebrated its centenary in 1974. Planned as a repository of local sculpture styles, the galleries trace the evolution of the Mathura school of art. It is believed that the first Buddha image emerged here. The sculptors were inspired by depictions of meditating Jain tirthankaras and the earlier more robust yakshas and yakshis to figuratively portray the Buddha.

Consequently one sees the pattern of change and development in the Buddha image. The early Buddhas and bodhisattvas were earthy and later, under the Guptas acquired the familiar spiritual renderings of the Enlightened One. This impression is evident in the sublime grace of the life size 5th century AD Buddha. It is believed that the Mathura school flourished under the Kushana kings as many royal statues were discovered. Of these the most outstanding is the headless figure of Kanishka, dressed in central Asian robes, with feet encased in large boots, set wide apart, holding a sword in one hand and its sheath in the other. Excavations in and around Mathura have added to the collection.

The huge number of terracotta pieces include archaic mother goddesses, plaques from the Sunga period and many images dating to the Kushana and Gupta eras. The Goyindnagar site yielded a rich hoard of magnificent Buddhist sculpture from the Kushana and Gupta periods. A dated Gupta period epigraph identifies the site as the Viradatta Vihara. The Govindnagar discoveries are extremely significant as they help establish an almost complete chronology of the Buddhist pantheon as well as shows the growth of the Mathura school which reached its zenith of perfection in the 5th century AD.



Government Museum
Museum Road
Dampier Park
Mathura 281 001

Timing: 10.00 to 5.00pm
Closed on Mondays and government holidays.