CENTER FOR ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY

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: 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: Buddha in bhumisparsha mudra, detail of the base. In the sunken portion, in a circular niche is a lion in a cave resting its head on its paws. The earth goddess appears beneath the right hand of the Buddha and in front of her is a male figure kneeling in reverence, perhaps the donor of the image. On the other side of the niche corresponding to the earth goddess is daughter of demon Mara running away.

Subject: Buddha in earth touching gesture or bhumisparsha mudra, detail of the upper portion. Around the head, carved in relief on the black slab is a circular halo which is decorated with two circular bands of rosettes and beads respectively. Over this halo, the foliage of the bodhi tree was shown which is now only visible on the top of the stone. The flying figures on both sides of the halo are celestials who shower down flowers on the Buddha after he conquers demon Mara.

Subject: Buddha seated in dharmacakramudra, turning the Wheel of Dharma gesture. This image was discovered by archaeologist F.O. Oertel south of the Dharmarajika stupa. This seated Buddha is enthroned. The halo behind his head is adorned with concentric bands, the outer one is a richly carved lotus creeper. Flying celestial figures are depicted on either side of the halo, and a pair of leogryphs flank the throne’s backrest. There is a centrally placed wheel, a symbol of the Buddha’s sermon at Sarnath, on the pedestal. Of the kneeling figures on either side of the wheel, the five in monks’ garb represent the Buddha’s first five disciples; while the other two, a woman and child, are probably depictions of the donors.

Subject: Buddha seated in dharmacakramudra, turning the Wheel of Dharma gesture, profile. This image was discovered by archaeologist F.O. Oertel south of the Dharmarajika stupa. This seated Buddha is enthroned. The halo behind his head is adorned with concentric bands, the outer one is a richly carved lotus creeper. Flying celestial figures are depicted on either side of the halo, and a pair of leogryphs flank the throne’s backrest. There is a centrally placed wheel, a symbol of the Buddha’s sermon at Sarnath, on the pedestal. Of the kneeling figures on either side of the wheel, the five in monks’ garb represent the Buddha’s first five disciples; while the other two, a woman and child, are probably depictions of the donors.

Subject: Buddha seated in dharmacakramudra, turning the Wheel of Dharma gesture. This image was discovered by archaeologist F.O. Oertel south of the Dharmarajika stupa. This seated Buddha is enthroned. The halo behind his head is adorned with concentric bands, the outer one is a richly carved lotus creeper. Flying celestial figures are depicted on either side of the halo, and a pair of leogryphs flank the throne’s backrest. There is a centrally placed wheel, a symbol of the Buddha’s sermon at Sarnath, on the pedestal. Of the kneeling figures on either side of the wheel, the five in monks’ garb represent the Buddha’s first five disciples; while the other two, a woman and child, are probably depictions of the donors.

Subject: Buddha, standing, detail showing Buddha with right hand raised in gesture of fearlessness or abhayamudra.

Subject: Buddha, standing, detail showing Buddha with right hand raised in gesture of fearlessness or 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.

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: Bodhisattva, rear. 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. 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, 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 the right hand probably was raised in the reassuring gesture, abhaya mudra.

Subject: View of the shrine. This place is thought to be where Lord Buddha spent the second week after attaining enlightenment. It was formerly known as the Tara Temple. Buddha sat here without blinking (animeshalochana) gazing constantly at the Bodhi tree.

Subject: Signage to mark Rajayatana where Buddha is said to have spent the seventh and final week at Bodh Gaya under a tree. He sat here in contemplation until he aroused himself to receive an offering of rice cakes and honey from two traveling merchants, Tapussa and Bhallika. The two merchants were the first to accept refuge in the Buddha and his dharma.

Subject: Image of Shiva-Parvati on the platform that was asserted by Cunningham to be the spot described by Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang as the place where Lord Buddha gazed constantly (animeshalochana) at the Bodhi Tree.

Subject: This is a platform immediately north of the temple, that has Pala period sculptures shaded by a large tree. Among them is an image of Shiva-Parvati, Ganesha and Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvata. This platform was asserted by Cunningham to be the spot described by Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang as the place where Lord Buddha gazed constantly (animeshalochana) at the Bodhi Tree.

Subject: View of the shrine. This place is thought to be where Lord Buddha spent the second week after attaining enlightenment. It was formerly known as the Tara Temple. Buddha sat here without blinking (animeshalochana) gazing constantly at the Bodhi tree.

Subject: View of the shrine. This place is thought to be where Lord Buddha spent the second week after attaining enlightenment. It was formerly known as the Tara Temple. Buddha sat here without blinking (animeshalochana) gazing constantly at the Bodhi tree.

Subject: Signage to mark Rajayatana where Buddha is said to have spent the seventh and final week at Bodh Gaya under a tree. He sat here in contemplation until he aroused himself to receive an offering of rice cakes and honey from two traveling merchants, Tapussa and Bhallika. The two merchants were the first to accept refuge in the Buddha and his dharma.