South Asia: Pala Sculpture and Painting
Artist: unknown
Title: eight scenes of the life of the Buddha
Material: chloritic schist
Site: Bihar area
Current Location: Boston Museum of Fine Art, USA
Period/Date: ca. 9 th. century
Iconography/Iconology: The central figure is the Buddha in bhumisparsamudra
at the moment of enlightenment. He is seated on a lion throne with an elaborate
throne back, with foliate designs. The surrounding figures are: lower left,
the birth of Sakyamuni; second from lower left, the preaching scene, either
the first sermon or the great miracle at Sravasti; above that is the descen
from Trayistrimsa; at the top center, is the parinirvana; down from that
on the right is the taming of Nalagiri; below that is a preaching scene,
again, either the first sermon or the great miracle at Sravasti; at the
bottom right is the gift of honey. Sets of this type were made as offering
based on the Sutra known as the Astamahapratiharya (the eight great conjuree's
illusions) of the Buddha in which it is said that to offer such a set is
to ensure ones own rebirth in heaven.
Stylistic Comments: By comparison to later Pala images, this 9th
century image is of a much simpler design and contains less elaboration.
Stellas of this type were included in brick temples or stupas.
