Early Buddhist Art
Artist: unknown
Title: Great Stupa at Sanchi (Stupa I), north gateway (torana),
west pillar, east face
Material: Stone
Site: Sanchi, India
Current Location: Sanchi, India
Period/Date: Sunga period (ca. 25 C.E.)
Iconography/Iconology: The male figure carries a blue lotus (nil
padma) in his right hand and is dressed as an Indic prince. Originally,
there were eight of these figures, one on each of the uprights of the eight
torana pillars. Their interpretation is very problematic. They may be donors/patrons,
entrance guardians (dvarapala), or even Bodhisattvas. This latter
possibility raises many questions, but is not impossible because the concept
of the bodhisattva is well-developed in the literature by this time.
Stylistic Comments: The slightly corpulent figure is characteristic
of the Indic ideal of male beauty of the time. He is draped in a thin, almost
diaphanous lower garment, while the upper body is nude, except for his jewelry.
The elaborate turban is characteristic of princely figures of this time.
