Buddha Shakyamuni
Sculpture
9th century-10th century (made)
9th century-10th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This sculpture captures the inner calm and tranquillity of Buddhahood. Here the Buddha is seated in a meditation posture on a lotus pedestal, with hands in ‘dharmacakramudra’. He is expounding the Buddhist law ('dharma'), an event which took place in the deer park at Sarnath.
He wears the simple robes of a monk, drawn over both shoulders, which clearly define the finely proportioned figure. In addition to his spiritual qualities, a Buddha is recognised by physical characteristics which distinguish him from ordinary mortals. Known as ‘laksanas’, these are auspicious marks which identify his exceptional spiritual capacity.
This sculpture was designed to occupy a wall niche in a Buddhist monastery, perhaps around the base of stupa, as still seen at the Mahabodhi temple, Bodhgaya. It was acquired at Patna between 1880 and 1890 by A. H. Giles. He was a government officer serving in Gaya at the time Alexander Cunningham was undertaking excavations at Bodhgaya and the restoration of the Mahabodhi temple. This quintessential Buddha image was probably recovered from one of the monastic sites in the region, perhaps Bodhgaya or Sarnath, and was brought to Britain.
He wears the simple robes of a monk, drawn over both shoulders, which clearly define the finely proportioned figure. In addition to his spiritual qualities, a Buddha is recognised by physical characteristics which distinguish him from ordinary mortals. Known as ‘laksanas’, these are auspicious marks which identify his exceptional spiritual capacity.
This sculpture was designed to occupy a wall niche in a Buddhist monastery, perhaps around the base of stupa, as still seen at the Mahabodhi temple, Bodhgaya. It was acquired at Patna between 1880 and 1890 by A. H. Giles. He was a government officer serving in Gaya at the time Alexander Cunningham was undertaking excavations at Bodhgaya and the restoration of the Mahabodhi temple. This quintessential Buddha image was probably recovered from one of the monastic sites in the region, perhaps Bodhgaya or Sarnath, and was brought to Britain.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Buddha Shakyamuni (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Grey sandstone |
| Brief description | Buddha Shakyamuni, Sandstone, Bodhgaya, eastern India, 9th-10th century |
| Physical description | A figure of Buddha seated in a meditation posture on a lotus pedestal, with hands in dharmacakramudra, expounding the Buddhist law (dharma), an event which took place in the deer park at Sarnath. He wears the close-fitting robes of a monk, over both shoulders, only visible by the carved hems at the neck, on his sleeves and at his wrists, and in the two hems above his ankles with a double row of folds of the lower edges of the robes radiating from under his crossed feet. His eyes are downcast under the arching lines of his eyebrows . There is a projecting circular urna in the middle of his forehead under rows of snail-shell curls which rise to a damaged ushnisha on top. He has long concave-curving ears and the distinguishing three rings round his neck. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Object history | Acquired in Patna, Gaya District in 1880s. Purchased for £75 with IS 239-248-1950 from Mrs Mary Charles of Bristol This sculpture was designed to occupy a wall niche in a Buddhist monastery, perhaps around the base of a stupa, as witnessed by those still in situ at the Mahabodhi temple, Bodhgaya. It was acquired at Patna in the 1880s by A H Giles, Superintendent of Police in Gaya District at the time Alexander Cunningham was undertaking excavations at Bodhgaya and the restoration of the Mahabodhi temple, together with ten other pieces (IS.239-248-1950). In all likelihood this quintessential Buddha image was recovered from one of the monastic sites in the region, perhaps Bodhgaya or Sarnath, and was brought to Britain. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This sculpture captures the inner calm and tranquillity of Buddhahood. Here the Buddha is seated in a meditation posture on a lotus pedestal, with hands in ‘dharmacakramudra’. He is expounding the Buddhist law ('dharma'), an event which took place in the deer park at Sarnath. He wears the simple robes of a monk, drawn over both shoulders, which clearly define the finely proportioned figure. In addition to his spiritual qualities, a Buddha is recognised by physical characteristics which distinguish him from ordinary mortals. Known as ‘laksanas’, these are auspicious marks which identify his exceptional spiritual capacity. This sculpture was designed to occupy a wall niche in a Buddhist monastery, perhaps around the base of stupa, as still seen at the Mahabodhi temple, Bodhgaya. It was acquired at Patna between 1880 and 1890 by A. H. Giles. He was a government officer serving in Gaya at the time Alexander Cunningham was undertaking excavations at Bodhgaya and the restoration of the Mahabodhi temple. This quintessential Buddha image was probably recovered from one of the monastic sites in the region, perhaps Bodhgaya or Sarnath, and was brought to Britain. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.238-1950 |
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| Record created | February 21, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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