The cosmopolitan art of Gandhara, with influences from Indian, Greek, Roman and Persian artists, appeared in this region in the 1^st Century BC, strengthened in the1^st Century AD, flourished till 5^th Century AD, and lingered on till 8^th Century. The purpose of this art was the propagation of Buddhism through the images carved and made in stone, stucco, terracotta and bronze, mostly enshrined in the stupas and monasteries throughout Gandhara region. Thousands of such stupas were mentioned by the Chinese pilgrim, Hiuen Tsang, who visited Gandhara in 7^thcentury AD, only few of which have been excavated so for.

The main focus of the art was Buddha's life stories and individual images, his previous birth stories (Jatakas) and future Buddhas. The most important among these are the historic Buddha, his miracles and all episodes from his birth to death, beautifully and liberally carved. The local devoted artists, stimulated by the personality of Buddha, took advantage of contacts, motifs and technology from the Greeks, Romans and Persians, to give Buddha an eternal life in their art.

The life stories of Buddha, depicted in Gandharan Art are an authentic document of the Mahayana text composed during the time of Kanishka. In fact, the sculptors of Gandhara translated the Buddhist Mahayana religious text into details in stone, stucco, terracotta and bronze, thus making them more romantic and providing a base for the expansion of Buddhism towards the Far East via the Silk Route and China through pilgrims and traders. The current Buddhist religion in Korea and Japan is a wonderful example of the extension of Gandharan Buddhism. The sculptures were fixed to the bases, drums and stairs of the stupas, around which the worshipers circumambulated. Individual figures filled the niches around the stupas and monasteries. Also, the harmika i.e, the solid box in square above the dome of the stupa was carved on all sides with Buddha life stories. These stories were chiseled on stone tablets and fixed to the stupas, inside which, relics of Buddha were kept in a casket for the purpose of worship. The Art, mainly a product of the land of Gandhara under the Kushana rulers, is more dynamic than the contemporary

Mathura Art of India.