Buddhist stupas and the representation of the Buddha in Indian art

Indian Art

Reflection activity: Ashoka

Why is the reign of the third Mauryan emperor, Ashoka, important to the study of early Indian and Buddhist art?

Ashoka was one of India's greatest emperors whose reign covered a vast region. He conquered Kallinga which had not been done by any of his predecessors. However, this conquest claimed massive numbers of casualties and was destructive. He later converted to Buddhism after some of his experiences in the war which introduced Buddhism and its art to a vast population in India.

Discussion activity: Stupas

To what extent do these examples share the core characteristics of all stupas, and in what ways do they differ from each other? Bodhnath, Nepal (example 1) and Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka (example 2)

The stupa generally has six parts that have symbolic meaning that the stupas share. The Bodhnath stupa appears to be more modern and contains cables that connect to the lotus. The Anuradhapura stupa is the biggest brick structure in the world and the stupas in this area are more bubble shaped than found in other regions.

3. Reflection activity: Stupas

What is the most important ritual performed at a stupa?

Buddhists visit stupas to perform rituals that help them to achieve one of the most important goals of Buddhism: to understand the Buddha's teachings, known as the Four Noble Truths (also known as the dharma and the law) (Smart History, N.d.). The practitioner can walk to circumambulate the stupa or move around it through a series of prostrations (a movement that brings the practitioner's body down low to the ground in a position of submission).

4. Reflection activity: Buddha in symbols

What symbols were used to indicate the Buddha's presence and/or his teaching?

One of the fundamental symbols in a stupa is the circle or wheel concept with the center representing enlightenment. Many stupas are placed on a square base, and the four sides represent the four directions, north, south, east and west. Each side often has a gate in the center and these gates are called torana which represents the four great life events of the Buddha: East (Buddha's birth), South (Enlightenment), West (First Sermon where he preached his teachings or dharma), and North (Nirvana) (Smart History, N.d.).

7. Discussion activity: Image of the Buddha (IMPORTANT ACTIVITY REQUIRES MORE DESCRIPTION)

Select an image of the historical Buddha from one region of South Asia (Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, or Sri Lanka) from the images available at the Los Angeles County Museum's Collections Online, the Metropolitan Museum or the British Museum's Explore website.

Figure 1 - Sandstone figure of the seated Buddha (British Museum, N.d.)

• How do I know it is the Buddha?

Images of the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni, are found in a limited number of gestures, relating to the most spiritually important moments in the Buddha's biography; instead of the more usual cross-legged position, this Buddha sits enthroned, and holds his hands in the dharmachakra-mudra, the gesture of preaching, or 'turning the wheel of Law' (British Museum, N.d.).

• How do I know where it was made?

Because it was made out of sandstone it is believed to be made in Eastern India

• What do I know about the period of its production?

Researchers believe that it was produced in the 5th century AD.

• Identifying the Buddha: The hand gestures

The Buddha holds his hands in the dharmachakra-mudra, the gesture of preaching, or 'turning the wheel of Law' (British Museum, N.d.).