Standing Buddha thumbnail 1
Standing Buddha thumbnail 2

Standing Buddha

Sculpture
11th century-12th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This sculpture is one of the finest Buddhist bronzes to survive from south India. The Buddha stands on a circular double-lotus pedestal, with holes for securing the image during processional use.

He gazes outward at the viewer, with his right hand gesturing protection (‘abhaya-mudra’). His monastic robe (‘sanghati’) covers both shoulders. It clings tightly to his body and forms stylised folds at the hem, in a manner characteristic of the eastern Indian Pala style.

The figure displays a number of the auspicious marks (‘laksanas’) denoting Buddha-hood. These include the skull protruberance (‘usnisa’) which has a flame projection - a southern-style motif. The forehead mark (‘urna’) is of the southern ‘hair-curl’ type, resembling an inverted question mark, and the hands have conventional palm markings.

This figure is in the style closely associated with the port city of Nagapattinam, coastal Tamilnadu. The Buddhist monastic complex there was the largest in medieval south India. It received generous patronage, as witnessed by over 350 bronze images that have been excavated or found by chance in the vicinity of the vihara and surrounding region.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleStanding Buddha (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Gilt copper alloy
Brief description
Standing Buddha, gilt copper alloy, Nagapattinam, south India, 11th-12th century
Physical description
A standing figure with the right hand in abhaya mudra, a gesture of reassurance, and the left holding the hem of the garment. The robe or sanghati covers both shoulders and clings tightly to the flesh, hanging cloak-like at the sides in stylised folds characteristic of the North Indian (Pala) school. The usnisa is composed of a northern-style proturberance superimposed by the southern-style flame. The urna is a southern type, resembling an inverted question mark. The hands have conventional palm-marks on a circular lotus-pedestal with holes for securing the image while being carried in procession.
This sculpture is one of the finest Buddhist bronzes to survive from South India. Buddhism came early to Southern India, as recorded by the 3rd century BC inscriptions of the Emperor Asoka. The region continued to be a centre of Buddhist learning as late as the 12th century, despite the growing dominance of Hinduism. Cities such as Nagapattinam attracted royal endowments not only from the local Chola dynasty but also from overseas kingdoms, such as the Sailendra rulers of Java. Buddhist scholars were widely attracted and generous patronage provided for the creation of numerous Buddha images.
Dimensions
  • Height: 68.5cm
  • Maximum width: 10in
  • With board weight: 49kg
Gallery label
(1/4/2009)
Buddha Offering Protection
1000–1200
Chola dynasty
Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, South India
Gilded copper alloy
This is one of the finest Buddhist bronzes to survive
from southern India. The style suggests it comes from
the coastal port of Nagapattinam, home at this time
to the largest monastic complex in the region. Features
from northern India, such as the monastic robe covering
both shoulders and closely moulded to the body, are
combined with southern elements, including the
flame ornament on the head bump.
Museum no. IPN.2639
1000–1200
(03/08/2015)
Buddha Offering Protection
1000–1100
Chola dynasty
This Buddhist bronze is one of the finest to survive from
southern India. It was probably made in the coastal port
of Nagapattinam, at that time home to the largest group
of Buddhist monasteries in southern India. The figure
combines features typical of the region, including the
flame ornament on the head, with elements from northeastern
India, such as the close-fitting monastic robe
covering both shoulders. This shows that monks travelled
long distances between different regions at that time.
Nagapattinam, Tamilnadu, South India
Gilded copper alloy
Museum no. IPN.2639
1000–1100
Object history
In the style of Nagapattinam, Tanjavur District, Tamilnadu, south India
One of three objects loaned from Mr Stodart in 1917
Production
Nagapattinam, Tanjavur district, Tamilnadu, south India
Subject depicted
Summary
This sculpture is one of the finest Buddhist bronzes to survive from south India. The Buddha stands on a circular double-lotus pedestal, with holes for securing the image during processional use.

He gazes outward at the viewer, with his right hand gesturing protection (‘abhaya-mudra’). His monastic robe (‘sanghati’) covers both shoulders. It clings tightly to his body and forms stylised folds at the hem, in a manner characteristic of the eastern Indian Pala style.

The figure displays a number of the auspicious marks (‘laksanas’) denoting Buddha-hood. These include the skull protruberance (‘usnisa’) which has a flame projection - a southern-style motif. The forehead mark (‘urna’) is of the southern ‘hair-curl’ type, resembling an inverted question mark, and the hands have conventional palm markings.

This figure is in the style closely associated with the port city of Nagapattinam, coastal Tamilnadu. The Buddhist monastic complex there was the largest in medieval south India. It received generous patronage, as witnessed by over 350 bronze images that have been excavated or found by chance in the vicinity of the vihara and surrounding region.
Bibliographic references
  • Haworth-Booth, Mark; Indian Sculpture: A Travelling Exhibition, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 1971 No. 8 Ramachandran, T N: The Nagapattinam and the Buddhist Bronzes in the Madras Museum, Madras, 1954
  • Guy, John. 'Buddhist Bronzes of Southern India : Rediscovering a Lost History' in Arts of Asia, volume 30 number 6, Nov-Dec 2000, pp.103-110.
  • L'escultura en el temples indis : l'art de la devoció : exposició organitzada per la Fundació "La Caixa" i el Victoria & Albert Museum, Londres. [Barcelona: Obra social, Fundació "la Caixa", c2007 Number: 9788476649466 p. 80
  • Indian temple sculpture / John Guy. London: V&A Publications, 2007 Number: 9781851775095 (hbk.), 1851775099 (hbk.) pl. 58, p. 57
  • Clarke, John: Arts of Asia, vol. 45, no. 5, September - October 2015, "The Buddha image in Asia: Phase One of the Robert H. N.Ho Family Foundation Galleries of Buddhist Art", p.118, pl. 9.
  • Haworth-Booth,Mark; Indian Sculpture: A Travelling Exhibition, Victgoria & Albert Museum, London, 1971 No. 8
Collection
Accession number
IPN.2639

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Record createdFebruary 13, 2000
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