buddhist art in india 2

Buddhism Buddhism and and

Buddhist Art in IndiaBuddhist Art in India

Buddhism/Buddhist ArtBuddhism/Buddhist Art

Life of the BuddhaLife of the Buddha

Siddhartha GautamaSiddhartha Gautama

ShakyaShakya ShakyamuniShakyamuni

LumbiniLumbini

KapilavastuKapilavastu

Monastic orderMonastic order

AshokaAshoka

From Prince to BuddhaFrom Prince to Buddha

His early life recorded in the His early life recorded in the LalitavistaraLalitavistara

ConceptionConception On occasion his life parallels the life of JesusOn occasion his life parallels the life of Jesus Immaculate conception, e.g.Immaculate conception, e.g.

Miraculous birth at Lumbini GardenMiraculous birth at Lumbini Garden Came out of his mother Mayadevi’s right flankCame out of his mother Mayadevi’s right flank

Born in 563 BCEBorn in 563 BCE Died in 483 BCEDied in 483 BCE

Mayadevi’s DreamMayadevi’s Dream

A white elephant enters Mayadevi’s wombA white elephant enters Mayadevi’s womb

Seen as a sign of divine interventionSeen as a sign of divine intervention

Seen as past Buddha descending from the Tushita HeavenSeen as past Buddha descending from the Tushita Heaven

A few days later, Mayadevi becomes pregnantA few days later, Mayadevi becomes pregnant

Customary of the time, Mayadevi goes to visit her parentsCustomary of the time, Mayadevi goes to visit her parents

But on her way, she goes into laborBut on her way, she goes into labor

Delivers the baby in the Lumbini GardenDelivers the baby in the Lumbini Garden

SiddharthaSiddhartha

Father SuddhodanaFather Suddhodana King of KapilavastuKing of Kapilavastu Republic (oligarchy)Republic (oligarchy) Northern Gangetic region—non-Vedic beltNorthern Gangetic region—non-Vedic belt

Brahmanic orthodoxy vs. Shakyan heterodoxyBrahmanic orthodoxy vs. Shakyan heterodoxy

Discussion:Discussion: What’s Michael Carrithers’ take on it? What’s Michael Carrithers’ take on it?

Astrologer’s PredictionAstrologer’s Prediction

Visitation by astrologer Atisa Visitation by astrologer Atisa Visitation by magi ?Visitation by magi ?

Atisa’s predictionAtisa’s prediction Siddhartha will be a great king or a redeemerSiddhartha will be a great king or a redeemer

SiddharthaSiddhartha

Naming the childNaming the child Siddhartha Gautama (Gotama)—Family nameSiddhartha Gautama (Gotama)—Family name Shakya (Clan name)—ShakyamuniShakya (Clan name)—Shakyamuni

Buddha is a title given only after enlightenmentBuddha is a title given only after enlightenment

Early yearsEarly years Suddhodana builds three palaces for his sonSuddhodana builds three palaces for his son Creates a utopia filled with only happiness & pleasureCreates a utopia filled with only happiness & pleasure Absence of pain, suffering, old age, sickness, diseaseAbsence of pain, suffering, old age, sickness, disease Siddhartha grows up in a deliberately controlled or programmed Siddhartha grows up in a deliberately controlled or programmed

environment environment

SiddharthaSiddhartha

Siddhartha is being groomed for taking over his Siddhartha is being groomed for taking over his father’s thronefather’s throne

He excels in everything He excels in everything Archery, warfareArchery, warfare SportsSports Reading and writingReading and writing

Siddhartha’s nemesis—cousin Devadutta plots to get Siddhartha’s nemesis—cousin Devadutta plots to get him killed many timeshim killed many times Judas?Judas?

Siddhartha gets marriedSiddhartha gets married With Yosodhara, a young and beautiful woman With Yosodhara, a young and beautiful woman (a distant cousin)(a distant cousin)

SiddharthaSiddhartha

Siddhartha is not happySiddhartha is not happy His heart is emptyHis heart is empty

He hasn’t seen his own kingdomHe hasn’t seen his own kingdom He’s been held within the confines of his palace as a prisonerHe’s been held within the confines of his palace as a prisoner He begs his father to see his kingdomHe begs his father to see his kingdom

His father agrees, but sends his army in advance His father agrees, but sends his army in advance to stage a picture perfect sceneto stage a picture perfect scene

Chhana—his companionChhana—his companion

Middle PathMiddle Path Music teacher admonishing a studentMusic teacher admonishing a student

The middle path lies between the two The middle path lies between the two oppositesopposites

In Bodhgaya, he sat under a Bodhi tree to In Bodhgaya, he sat under a Bodhi tree to meditatemeditate

He sat there for 40 days and 40 nights until He sat there for 40 days and 40 nights until he attained enlightenmenthe attained enlightenment

TeachingTeaching

Mara’s Attack (darkness, ignorance, evil, devil)Mara’s Attack (darkness, ignorance, evil, devil)

On the last day Mara comes to tempt SiddharthaOn the last day Mara comes to tempt Siddhartha

Is Mara the same as Satan who attemptsIs Mara the same as Satan who attempts to tempt Jesus?to tempt Jesus?

Mara uses everything in his arsenal to foil Siddhartha’s Mara uses everything in his arsenal to foil Siddhartha’s concentrationconcentration

Mara’s five daughtersMara’s five daughters 1) Desire, 2) Ego, 3) Pride, 4) Greed, and 5) Fear1) Desire, 2) Ego, 3) Pride, 4) Greed, and 5) Fear

SiddharthaSiddhartha

Four sightsFour sights An old manAn old man A sick manA sick man A corpseA corpse An asceticAn ascetic

FilmFilm

Buddha’s teachingBuddha’s teaching

Four Noble TruthsFour Noble Truths1.1. Life is DukkhaLife is Dukkha2.2. There is a cause of DukkhaThere is a cause of Dukkha3.3. There is a way to stop itThere is a way to stop it4.4. By following the 8-fold pathBy following the 8-fold path

The Eight-fold Paths The Eight-fold Paths 1.1. Right intentionRight intention2.2. Right speechRight speech3.3. Right actionRight action4.4. Right livelihoodRight livelihood5.5. Right viewRight view6.6. Right effortRight effort7.7. Right mindfulness Right mindfulness 8.8. Right concentrationRight concentration

Buddha’s teachingBuddha’s teaching

““Don’t take my word for it. Try it yourself.”Don’t take my word for it. Try it yourself.”

““Be a light onto yourself.”Be a light onto yourself.”

His famous aphorism, “Look within, thou art the His famous aphorism, “Look within, thou art the Buddha.” All this served the lower the resistance Buddha.” All this served the lower the resistance that so often attends the arrival of a new and that so often attends the arrival of a new and unfamiliar faith. (Prateka Buddha)unfamiliar faith. (Prateka Buddha)

Very practical man. He offered no promises of Very practical man. He offered no promises of heaven, just release from the clutches of heaven, just release from the clutches of transmigration of life (samsara). transmigration of life (samsara).

BuddhaBuddha

What does the word “Buddha” mean?What does the word “Buddha” mean?

The word 'Buddha' means 'awakened one'. He was, by The word 'Buddha' means 'awakened one'. He was, by his own insistence, a man, and he lived and died like his own insistence, a man, and he lived and died like everyone else.everyone else.

Any teacher, the Buddha said, can only point the way. Any teacher, the Buddha said, can only point the way. The rest is up to you. Both the teaching and student The rest is up to you. Both the teaching and student exceed the teacher. exceed the teacher.

As Morpheus in the movie Matrix said, “I can only As Morpheus in the movie Matrix said, “I can only show you the door, you have to walk through it.” show you the door, you have to walk through it.”

Man of the common peopleMan of the common people

Buddha gave his sermons in Prakrit, or PaliBuddha gave his sermons in Prakrit, or Pali A language spoken by the massesA language spoken by the masses He avoided using Sanskrit, the language of theHe avoided using Sanskrit, the language of the Brahmins, or the elite class of societyBrahmins, or the elite class of societyWhy? DiscussionWhy? Discussion Jesus, too, taught in Aramaic, the language theJesus, too, taught in Aramaic, the language the general masses spoke. general masses spoke.

Was Buddha a reformer?Was Buddha a reformer?

He recognized the existence of an infinite number of He recognized the existence of an infinite number of past and future Buddhaspast and future Buddhas

In light of this, can we call him the founder of In light of this, can we call him the founder of Buddhism?Buddhism?

Siddhartha's DepartureSiddhartha's Departure

Siddhartha leaves his palace at midnightSiddhartha leaves his palace at midnight In search of freedom from SamsaraIn search of freedom from Samsara

DiscussionDiscussion-How Siddhartha views the world?-How Siddhartha views the world?

Samsara (phenomenal world) is seen as a place of Samsara (phenomenal world) is seen as a place of DukkhaDukkha (suffering) (suffering)

He believes in Karma and transmigration of life He believes in Karma and transmigration of life (birth & rebirth)(birth & rebirth)

He was 29 when he left his palaceHe was 29 when he left his palace

Understanding lifeUnderstanding life

What’s the turning point in his life?What’s the turning point in his life? The Four SightsThe Four Sights

He could live with oldness and sicknessHe could live with oldness and sickness But he couldn’t accept deathBut he couldn’t accept death He thought death was cruel, b/c rebirth is He thought death was cruel, b/c rebirth is

inevitable after deathinevitable after death Hindu concept of life as a cycle that revolves Hindu concept of life as a cycle that revolves

w/o stoppingw/o stopping

The only way to break the cycle is through The only way to break the cycle is through NirvanaNirvana

Nelumbo nucifera

Pipal tree, or the Bodhi tree (ficus religiosa)

Pipal leaf

Indus figurine, c. 2,000 BCE Roman boy in a toga, c. 1st.c. CEBuddha

Siddhartha’s Birth MarksSiddhartha’s Birth MarksBorn with 32 auspicious physical signs Born with 32 auspicious physical signs ((lakshanaslakshanas):):1.1. Urna (dot between eyebrows)Urna (dot between eyebrows)2.2. Ushanisha (cranial bump)Ushanisha (cranial bump)3.3. Srivatsa (diamond shaped birth mark in chest)Srivatsa (diamond shaped birth mark in chest)4.4. Long armsLong arms5.5. Long earsLong ears6.6. Long and webbed fingersLong and webbed fingers7.7. Three rings around the neckThree rings around the neck8.8. Smooth skinSmooth skin9.9. Long and perfectly arched eyebrowsLong and perfectly arched eyebrows10.10. Curly hairCurly hair11.11. Full lipsFull lips12.12. Eyelids in the shape of a lotus budEyelids in the shape of a lotus bud13.13. No physical blemishes, and so on…..No physical blemishes, and so on…..

Buddha’s heads showing urna and ushanisa

Iconometry of Buddha

The wheel of Samsara (phenomenal world)

Keeps moving w/o stoppingBeings caught in Samsara aren’t free

Nirvana is the answer

Samsara is the field of:Desire

Desire leads to attachmentSince there is no end to desire, human beings are fettered to

Samsara forever.

The field of Nirvanalies outside of Samsara

The eight-spoked wheel (chakra—Dharmacakra). The eight spokes represent the Noble Eightfold Path of Buddhism.

Mahaparinirvana

Anionic Representationof the Buddha

Chorten

Stupa iconography

Early Buddhist sitesEarly Buddhist sites

Lomas Risi caveLomas Risi cave

BhajaBhaja

BharhutBharhut

SanchiSanchi

AmaravatiAmaravati

Karla caves in KarliKarla caves in Karli

MathuraMathura

Ajanta cavesAjanta caves

King Ashoka (Maurya)King Ashoka (Maurya)

King Kaniska (Kushan)King Kaniska (Kushan)

Middle PathMiddle Path

Theravada—also Hinayana—(Sri Lanka—former Theravada—also Hinayana—(Sri Lanka—former Ceylon, Thailand—former Siam, Myanmar—former Ceylon, Thailand—former Siam, Myanmar—former Burma)Burma)

Mahayana (Nepal, Tibet, China, South East Asia and Mahayana (Nepal, Tibet, China, South East Asia and Japan)Japan)

ChaityaChaitya ViharaVihara YakshaYaksha YakshiYakshi ChakraChakra MudraMudra AbhayaAbhaya DhyanaDhyana VaradaVarada Dharmachakra pravartana Dharmachakra pravartana Vyakhyana Vyakhyana PranaPrana Mithuna (amorous couple, often in embrace or in sexual Mithuna (amorous couple, often in embrace or in sexual

position)position) MaraMara Greco-Roman style (Gandhara)Greco-Roman style (Gandhara)

Yakshi from Sanchi, 1st century CE

Highly polished columns

Bharhut stupa, 1st century B.C.E

Bharhut

Mithuna couple, 1st century B.C.E.

Bharhut

Bharhut

A Greek Warrior

Karli

Mithuana couple from Karli cave, 2nd. century CE

Stupa with Buddha’s relicVaisali, Bihar

Jataka taleKapi JatakaBharhut stupa1st BCE

Rock cut cave architecture, Lomas Risi, 3rd. BCE

Bhaja rock cut caves

Bhaja

Bhaja Caves are a group of 221 rock-cut caves dating back to 200 BCE located at Karli in Maharashtra. The location of Bhaja caves is not far from location of Karla Caves and these are stylistically similar to the Karla Caves. These caves are on a major trade route of the past that ran from the Arabian Sea eastward into the Deccan region, the division between North India and South India.

The Bhaja caves share the same set of architectural designs as Karla caves. Visually most impressive monument is large shrine - chaityagriha - with open, horseshoe-arched entrance part. The chaitrya has unique reliefs of Indian mythology. Other caves have a nave and aisle, with an apse containing a solid stupa and the aisle circling round the apse, providing the circumambulation path.Notable part of monument is a group of 14 stupas, five inside and nine outside an irregular excavation. One of the caves has some fine sculptures.

Near the last cave is a waterfall which, during the monsoon season, has water that falls into a small pool at the bottom.

Bhaja cave, 2nd-1st century BCE

Bhaja cave, entrance to the inner rooms, 2nd-1st century BCE

Indra riding an elephant, door relief From Bhaja cave, 2nd. Century BCE

Bhaja

Interior of Bhaja Chaitya, 1st century BCE

Questions

Which is the earliest rock cave?Lomas RisiBhajaKarlaNone of the above

Symbolism of the cave

Provides not only shelter from the elements of nature, but also psychological safety, because……..?

Enclosed and deep recesses of the rock is similar to the mother’s womb—

warm, comfortable and safe.

Womb stands for fertility—creation of life.

Chaitya Hall, Bhaja cave, 1st century BCE

Bhaja, living quarters

Bhaja

Main facade of the Bhaja caves. Horse-shoe shaped façade.

PillarsRaftersBeams

Karla/Karle/Karli

Karle Chaitya Hall, a Buddhist cathedral with a nave and two aisles, 2nd century CE

Karle cave

Buddha flanked by Bodhisattvas. 5th century CE

Karle2nd cent. CE

Amarous couple (Mithuna) from Karle cave

The caves were historically associated with the Mahāsāṃghika sect of Buddhism, which had great popularity in this region of India, as well as wealthy patronage.

The caves house a Buddhist monastery dating back to the 2nd century BCE.

The caves at Karla are believed to be some of thousands of similar caves excavated in the Sahyadri Hills in the early 1st millennium CE.

Amaravati stupa, 2nd century CE

Questions

Which is the earliest rock-cut cave?a. Karleb. Bhajac. Lomas Risid. None of the above

Symbolism of the cave

Provides not only shelter from the elements of nature, but also psychological safety, because……..?

Enclosed and deep recesses of the rock is similar to the mother’s womb—warm, comfortable and safe.

Womb stands for fertility—creation of life.

Shakyamuni, presented to the shrine at Sarnath by Friar

Bala, 2nd century CE

The Katra Buddha, Buddha seated on a lion throne, C. A.D. 130, Sikri sandstone,

H. 27.75 in.

Parkham Yaksha2nd century BCE

LACMA

Ajanta cave, 5th century CE

Buddha teaching, Ajanta

Yogic bodyIdealized form

Gandhara=GandharanNaturalRealisticGreco-Roman

Buddha with two Bodhisattvas

Buddha Triad Grey Schist

Dated 182 CEGandhara

Maitreya Buddha, Gandhara, 2nd century CE

Gandhara Maitreya

Bodhisattva Maitreya, Gandhara3nd century CE

The EndThe End