Early Buddhist Art
Artist: unknown
Title: Bodhisattva or meditating figure
Material: Chunar sandstone
Site: Sarnath, near Varanasi, India
Current Location: Sarnath Museum, India
Period/Date: Gupta (ca. 5th century C.E.)
Iconography/Iconology: The figure of the Buddha, above the top of the
head of the main figure's head, displays dhyanamudra and may be
Amitabha Buddha. If that is the case, this figure is possibly Avalokitesvara.
However, the uniquely large size of the Buddha and the two attendant figures
standing on the shoulders of the main figure strongly suggests that the
main figure was particpating in a meditation in which he visualized himself
as Amitabha and his two attendants. This is a well-known type of tantric
meditation, which was undoubtedly in use and under development at the time
when this sculpture was made. The sculpture is characteristic of a number
of somewhat ambiguous sculptures from Sarnath, which suggest a formative
period in the visualizations in tantric practices.
Stylistic Comments:
