July 12, 2013: Buddhism was founded on the teachings of Gautam Buddha (ca. 563-483 B.C) who was born in Kapilavastu in Nepal as prince Siddhartha of Sakya clan. Mauryan Emperor Ashoka, who ruled between 269-232 BC, spread Buddhism all over India including Kashmir and Afghanisthan.

Another powerful follower Kanishka, the greatest king of Kanishka dynasty (1st to 3rd century A.D), helped spread the new faith to Central Asia and from there to China and to the rest of the world. Buddhist art, which accompanied preachers of the new religion, acquainted the inhabitants of the foreign lands with the stories of the Sakya muni and the principles of the artistic production of pictures and images of the ‘Enlightened one’. It is generally believed that the earliest images of the Buddha were made in the ancient province of Gandhara towards the close of the first century A.D. This region comprising the present north-west Pakistan and Afghanistan was under the Kushan Kings.

The typical Gandhara Buddha wears Sanghati, a monastic garment; ushnisa, a top knot; urna, a dot between the eyebrows; elongated earlobes; half-closed eyes; a benign smile. He holds his hands in mudras like dhyani (meditation), bhumisparsha (right-handed pointed towards earth). He is also seen with a halo (nimbus).

These iconographic details which were continued in the images of Gupta, Mathura and Pala periods from fourth to 10th centuries were exported to the convert countries. The Buddhist sculptures and pictures of Nepal, Tibet and Burma preserved in Salar Jung Museum show how Buddhist art evolved under the influence of Indian art in those border countries.

Nepal

According to tradition, Buddhism was introduced to Nepal by Emperor Ashoka, but the great period of Buddhism and Buddhist art begins in the eighth and ninth centuries with contact with Pala Buddhist culture of Bengal. The iconography and forms of Pala art was literally transported to this Himalayan kingdom. The form of Buddhism adopted by Nepal was Vajrayana or Tantric Buddhism in which reliance is placed on spells, ritual and magical diagram (mandala). The Vajrayana Buddhism was responsible for the introduction of, besides The Buddha, The Bodhisattva Manjusri and Tara images. Bodhisattavas are persons who strive for enlightenment in order to help others on their quest for highest development. Manjusri is worshipped for wisdom, memory, intelligence and eloquence. Tara is a saviour. At the head of the Museum’s Nepal sculptures are a gilt bronze seated and inscribed dhyani sakya muni, an attractive Tara, both of 19th century and a 16th century Manjusri.

Tibet

Indian Buddhism spread to Tibet through alliance with Nepal and China in seventh century and firmly established by the holy man Padmasambhava in eighth century. In the course of the centuries Tibet art was also influenced by the Buddhist culture of Khotan in Central Asia and by Chinese art in 18th century. As in Nepal, the form of Buddhism adopted was Vajrayana.

Although paintings exist in the monastic centres of Tibet, our knowledge of the paintings in this Himalayan kingdom is limited largely to a great number of tangkas, religious banners. Tangkas are paintings done on cloth and framed in silk. They commonly depict the Buddha surrounded by deities, Lamas and scenes of his life and teachings. Delicate work and gold appear in tangkas. The Museum possesses some excellent tangkas. An attractive Tibetan Buddha is a metal icon dated 1708.

Burma (Myanmar) is known as the land of the golden pagodas (stupas) and a Buddhist tradition that has been set up long ago. The religious majority, with 89 per cent are followers of Theravada Buddhism originally developed by Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Tipitaka (Thripitaka) is the sacred canon of Theravada Buddhism, a faith that found its expression in the masterly architecture of some 13,000 pagodas and temples.

Tradition says that missionaries were sent to Burma as early as third century A.D. However, the evolution of Buddha figure under the influence of Indian iconography does not appear to have evolved before sixth century A.D. In the Museum collection of Burmese Buddhist figures outstanding is a dhyani bronze Buddha with his right hand held in Bhumisparsha mudra, done in Mandaly style. Other bronze objects include winged dancing figures derived from netas, the local gods of Burma.

B. KOTAIAH,

Dep. Keeper (Retd.),

Salar Jung Museum

Source: The Hindu, DT. July 12, 2013.