CENTER FOR ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY

Subject: Seated Buddha in the sanctum of Mahabodhi Temple, detail.

Subject: Seated Buddha in the sanctum of Mahabodhi Temple, detail.

Subject: Image of Buddha in the sanctum of the temple

Subject: Image of Buddha in the sanctum of the temple

Subject: Slab sculptured with eight principal scenes from Buddha's life (second panel), detail showing Descent of buddha from Trayastrimsa Heaven accompanied by Brahma and Indra at Sankasya (left) and Great Miracle at Shravasti (right).

Subject: Enormous Buddha standing in Wat Thai

Subject: Buddha in preaching posture. This tall relief has an an image of the Buddha with his hands in the teaching gesture.

Subject: Bodhisattva probably Manjushri. The image was found southeast of the Main Shrine. The figure’s identification as the bodhisattva Manjushri is suggested by the presence in the headdress of a small earth-touching (bhumisparsha mudra) figure of Akshobhya, the Jina Buddha associated with Manjushri. The broken lotus held in the left hand was Manjushri’s blue lotus (nilotpala) and that the right hand was held in varada mudra. A brief inscription on the back of the figure records the so-called Buddhist creed, with a few additional letters whose meaning is unclear.

Subject: Dhyani Buddha Amoghasiddhi seated cross legged on an expanded lotus in an attitude of granting protection (abhayamudra). His right hand broken off and left hand rests on the lap. A circular halo appears around his head and classical features such as curly hair, elongated earlobes, half closed eyes and a calm face mark the image.

Subject: Dhyani Buddha Amoghasiddhi seated cross legged on an expanded lotus in an attitude of granting protection (abhayamudra). His right hand is broken off and the left hand rests on the lap. A circular halo appears around his head and classical features such as curly hair, elongated earlobes, half closed eyes and a calm face mark the image.

Subject: Miniature stupa on lotus with seated Buddha: Stupa on a fully expanded lotus flower with a figure of Buddha seated on a throne in European fashion in pralambapada asan and in the attitude of expounding the law that is dharmachakra pravartan. Double cornice appears around the drum of the stupa. Umbrella (chhatravali) of the votive stupa is broken off.

Subject: Miniature stupa on lotus with seated Buddha: Stupa on a fully expanded lotus flower with a figure of Buddha seated on a throne in European fashion in pralambapada asan and in the attitude of expounding the law that is dharmachakra pravartan. Double cornice appears around the drum of the stupa. Umbrella (chhatravali) of the votive stupa is broken off.

Subject: Carved Slab. The slab is divided into two panels, upper panel contains 26 Buddha figures in meditative posture (dhyana mudra) and five on each of the sides, in the lower panel. There are two worshipers at the right end and one at the left. The remaining space is carved with a series of worshiping articles including from the left a conch, lamp stand (dipadana), an incense-burner (dhupadana), a basin for flowers, a pair of fire basins, a pitcher with a conch (sankha), an umbrella (chhattra) with a streamer, a bed with a pair of fly-whisks (chamara) on it and three uncertain objects below it, female with a fly-whisk in her right hand and at last a vessel with fruits. The slab has grooves on top indicating that it must have been used in the facing of a shrine or a stupa.

Subject: Head of Buddha with short curls of hair, half closed eyes, elongated ears, and a calm and composed face. The forehead of the figure is slightly damaged.

Subject: Head of Buddha with short curls of hair turned towards the right and a protuberance (usnisa) on top of the head. The eyes are half closed in meditation and the nose and chin are damaged.

Subject: This stele represents mahaparinirvana or the liberation of the Buddha. Buddha is shown in a reclining posture. Human beings in profound grief are represented on the pedestal of the stele.

Subject: Sahastra Buddha. Stone slab depicts four rows of seated Buddha figures in meditative postures. The top row has 18 Buddha figures, followed by 19 in the next row, and 21 figures each in the lower two registers.

Subject: Relief depicting the Miracle at Shravasti. It was found northwest of the Main Shrine during the 1906-07 excavations. At Shravasti, the Buddha engaged in a debate with six adherents of rival faiths often described in Buddhist literature as “heretics”. Over the course of eight days, the Buddha performed various feats, culminating in the replication of his own form on lotuses, each one simultaneously preaching dharma (righteous law). The Buddha is seated in the lower-central part of the relief, his hands in dharmachakra mudra. From his body grow lotus creepers, each culminating in a full-blown lotus flower that serves as the pedestal for a seated or standing Buddha; there are eight of them in addition to the larger main figure.

Subject: Life Scenes of Buddha, detail. The uppermost compartment illustrates the Buddha's decease (mahaparinirvana). There is a group of five mourning figures. The figure seated cross-legged with the back turned to the front can be identified as Subhadra, the last convert of Buddha. The figure at the feet of Buddha is his disciple Mahakasyapa of Rajagriha. The figure near Buddha's head fanning him must be monk Upavana. Behind Buddha's image are four more mourning figures each with the right hand raised in grief. Tree spirits emerging from the sala trees shower flowers on Buddha.

Subject: Life Scenes of Buddha (bottom to top): Nativity; Enlightenment; First sermon; Mahaparinirvana.

Subject: Umbrella. The umbrella originally was supported by a shaft bearing an inscription declaring the bodhisattva image (Museum No. 356) and umbrella to be the gift of the monk Bala in the third year of Kanishka’s reign. The image was given in Varanasi, where the Buddha walked. The image of bodhisattva was originally protected by this stone umbrella, which was found broken into ten pieces. Eight of these have been joined together with copper dowels while the other two are more damaged. The umbrella is adorned with concentric circular bands of decoration.

Subject: Bodhisattva, profile. This image was found between the Dharmarajika Stupa and the Main Shrine. This image was found between the Dharmarajika Stupa and the Main Shrine. The image originally had an umbrella (Museum No. 348) placed over its head and an inscription declares them to be a gift of Monk Bala in the third year of Kanishka's reign. The image was given in Varanasi, where the Buddha walked. A halo was positioned behind the figure's head. The figure's outer garment is draped over the proper left arm; the right arm is missing, but was probably originally raised in the reassuring gesture, abhayamudra.

Subject: Bodhisattva, rear, detail. This image was found between the Dharmarajika Stupa and the Main Shrine. The image originally had an umbrella (Museum No. 348) placed over its head and an inscription declares them to be a gift of Monk Bala in the third year of Kanishka's reign. The image was given in Varanasi, where the Buddha walked. A halo was positioned behind the figure's head. The figure's outer garment is draped over the proper left arm; the right arm is missing, but was probably originally raised in the reassuring gesture, abhayamudra. 

Subject: Umbrella. The umbrella originally was supported by a shaft bearing an inscription declaring the bodhisattva image (Museum No. 356) and umbrella to be the gift of the monk Bala in the third year of Kanishka’s reign. The image was given in Varanasi, where the Buddha walked. The image of bodhisattva was originally protected by this stone umbrella, which was found broken into ten pieces. Eight of these have been joined together with copper dowels while the other two are more damaged. The umbrella is adorned with concentric circular bands of decoration.