Later Buddhist Art
Artist: unknown
Title: Buddha, seated, displaying dharmacakramudra, detail of
right side of throne back
Material: Chunar sandstone
Site: Sarnath, near Varanasi, India
Current Location: Sarnath Museum, India
Period/Date: Gupta (ca. 5th century C.E.)
Iconography/Iconology: The leogryph-like creature is known as a shardula,
and is a composite animal consisting of a horned lion with wings. They
have been commonly seen in Indic art since the Mauryan period and are still
used as descriptors of power and prestige in Buddhist art. The configuration
at the side of the throne where the shardula appears is known as a vyalaka,
of which there are many types.
Stylistic Comments:
