Early Buddhist Art
Artist: unknown
Title: Relief carving of the Mauryan Temple of the First Sermon
at Sarnath
Material: Sandstone
Site: Bodh Gaya, India
Current Location: Bodh Gaya Site Museum, India
Period/Date: Sunga period (ca. 2nd century - 1st century B.C.E.)
Iconography/Iconology: A sculpture representing the pitha (seat)
of Sakyamuni's First Sermon at Sarnath. Originally placed in a railing
surrounding the Sunga period temple (no longer extant) at Bodh Gaya. Such
representations are believed to be surrogates allowing pilgrims to "travel"
to pilgrimage sites without having to actually visit the site.
Stylistic Comments: This facade of the apsidal temple is typical
of many temples, known popularly as "caitya halls," that survive
in rock-cut architecture in western India. They contain a large central
room with an ambulatory passage around that central room. Ind the center
of the apse end would be caitya (stupa), an image, or, as seen in this case,
a pillar with a wheel known as the "dharmacakra," and a platform
for offerings. The actual temple excavation included fragments of many
figures, as well, but how these figures were arranged and who they were
of are not known.
