Buddha image lost from Dolpa found in China

BY A STAFF REPORTER,Kathmandu, Nov. 19: An 11th century Shreedhar Vishnu (Vishnu Flanked by Goddess Laxmi and Garuda) is returning to Nepal from the United States of America soon. 

The stone sculpture was stolen in 1982 from Kotatole Bahili Hiti of Lalitpur Metropolitan City Ward No. 22. 

Subhadra Bhattarai, chief archeological officer of the Department of Archeology (DoA), said that the idol would arrive in Nepal within November. 

The stolen idol was reached the Metropolitan Museum of Arts of the USA in 1995. 

An archeologist, Sukara Sagar Shrestha, who is no more today, had collected a photograph of this stolen artifact which proved that the origin of the stolen sculpture of Shreedhar Vishnu is Bungamati. 

Likewise, a 15th century bronze image of Shakyamuni Buddha has been located in Guardian Auctions, Beijing, China. 

According to Lost Arts of Nepal Facebook page that tracks the whereabouts of Nepal’s stolen artifacts, the image was stolen in April 2016 from Gakar Monastery of Dho Tarap Dolpo. 

This is the most important image of the monastery collection, which contained heart, eye and tongue relics of the 4th Gakar Rinpoche. 

A photograph of this  precious treasure of the monastery was taken by Khenpo Hungtramp, brother of Gakar Rinpoche, in 2007. 

A police complaint was filed in Dunai Police station and police had arrested several persons involved in the theft. 

This Buddha image has remained in a reputed private collection in China, which is now offered for sale through China Guardian Auctions. 

Nepal Heritage Recovery Campaign has already filed a complaint at the Department of Archeology and all concerned parties are notified to act for the  repatriation of the image from China.