South Asia: Pala Sculpture and Painting
Artist: unknown
Title: five of the eight scenes of the life of the Buddha
Material: chloritic schist
Site: Nalanda
Current Location: unknown
Period/Date: ca. 9 th. century
Iconography/Iconology: This scene of the Buddha in bhumisparsamudra
shows him attended by four other Buddhas. The two teachingscenes at the
top are either the great miracle at Sravasti or the first sermon, which
is which is not specified by details. Two standing figures are the taming
of Nalagiri ofn the left and the descent from Trayistrimsa ofn the right.
Abbreviated sets of the eight scenes appear frequently in the Pala area,
but iconographic source has been discovered for them. Perrhaps the most
important feature of this sculpture is the presence of the crown and jewelry
on the presumed ascetic Buddha. This identifies the Buddha as not just
Sakyamuni but as Sakyamuni in his transcendantr form in which he teaches
the tantras to his bodhisattva followers.
Stylistic Comments: This finely sculpted piece is typical of the
best Pala sculptures and the highly polished finish is characteristic of
the style.
