Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 6, 2026

Shotorak monastery

Shotorak monastery, at Kuh-i Pahlawan, Kapisa Province, is an ancient monastery located in modern Afghanistan. It was positioned together with Paitava monastery around the city of Kapisa, 40 km north of Kabul, which was the northern capital of the Kushan Empire. Beautiful sculptures of Buddhist donors in Kushan dress are known from this site.

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Shotorak
Meditating Buddha, Shotorak, 2-3rd century CE.
Location of Shotorak in South Asia
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Shotorak monastery (Afghanistan)
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Shotorak monastery (Bactria)
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34°55′51″N 69°25′59″E / 34.930701°N 69.432950°E / 34.930701; 69.432950
TypeMonastery

Shotorak monastery, at Kuh-i Pahlawan, Kapisa Province, is an ancient monastery located in modern Afghanistan. It was positioned together with Paitava monastery around the city of Kapisa, 40 km north of Kabul, which was the northern capital of the Kushan Empire. Beautiful sculptures of Buddhist donors in Kushan dress are known from this site.1

Paitava, with Shorotak, have an artistic usage of representing the Buddha with fire emanating from the shoulders in the miracle of Sravasti, a feature also found on the effigies of Kushan kings on their coinage.2

  • Shakyamuni and devotees.[3]
    Shakyamuni and devotees.3
  • Maitreya's paradise, Shotorak, 2-3rd century CE.
    Maitreya's paradise, Shotorak, 2-3rd century CE.
  • Gandhara vine-scroll from the Shotorak Monastery, 2nd-3rd century CE
    Gandhara vine-scroll from the Shotorak Monastery, 2nd-3rd century CE
References

References

  1. Behrendt, Kurt; Brancaccio, Pia (2011). Gandharan Buddhism: Archaeology, Art, and Texts. UBC Press. p. 11. ISBN 9780774841283.
  2. Rosenfield, John M. (1967). The dynastic arts of the Kushans. University of California Press. p. 200.
  3. Rosenfield, John M. (1967). The Dynastic Arts of the Kushans. University of California Press. p. 451, Figure 105. Figure 105: Image pedestal with Sakyamuni flanked by Bodhisattvas and devotees. Shotorak.