Paitava

Paitava
The Twin Miracle of Water and Fire,found at Paitava monastery, 3rd century CE.
Paitava Paitava Paitava Paitava (Afghanistan)
Coordinates:34.883333°N 69.200000°E/34.883333; 69.200000
Country	Afghanistan

Paitavawas a Buddhist monastery located in modernAfghanistan.It was positioned together withShotorak monasteryaround the city ofKapisa,40 km north ofKabul,which was the northern capital of theKushan Empire.Beautiful sculptures of Buddhist donors in Kushan dress are known from this site.Several Kushan coins were found in the monastery, suggested an early Kushan occupation, but some of the Buddhist works, such asThe Twin Miracle of Water and Fire,may belong to the later period of theKidarites(320–467 CE).

Paitava was also 7 km fromBegram.The monastery was visited by the 7th century Chinese pilgrimXuan Zang,who said it was near a large city namedSi-pi-to-la-fasse,the largest city in the Kapisa region.

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

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  Bodhisattva.
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  Miracle of Sravasti (detail)
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  Miracle of Sravasti (detail)
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  The Buddha with Heracles and Tychee (detail)

Kushandevotees aroundMaitreya,the Buddha of the future (center). Paitava.The sculptures of Paitava may alternatively belong to the later period of theKidarites(320–467 CE).