Buddha & Jain

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Buddhist Statues

Buddha's enlightenment, at Bodh Gaya in northern India, showed him the Four Noble Truths of human suffering and the way to overcome this suffering by following the Eightfold Path. This is sometimes called the Middle Way because Buddha did not advocate extremes in any of his ideas, but recommended moderation, or a middle path which ordinary people could follow. This was a more practical approach than that of Mahavir (Jain) and consequently it attracted many more followers. In the early period of Buddhism, when Buddha was represented only by symbols, the most important of these were the tree, representing the pipal tree under which Buddha received enlightenment, and the wheel, representing the doctrine of law. After Buddha was given the status of a god, the free standing sculptures which were made showed many distinct characteristics. There are 32 marks (lakshanas) of Buddhahood, of which some of the usual ones are: elongated ear-lobes, indicating how Buddha's ears were stretched from wearing jewels when he was Prince Siddartha; the monastic robe (sanghati), often with a high roll collar; the whorl of hair between the eyebrows (urna), indicating the third eye of spiritual vision; and the cranial bump (ushnisha) representing Buddha's special wisdom or superhuman knowledge. The ushnisha is often shown as a flame. The finest Buddha images were made in the Gupta period (320-650 AD) and these classical images, either standing or in a sitting meditative pose, have an air of calm immobility, displaying peace and humanity. After the classical Gupta period the quality of Buddhist images declined in most of India and lost much of their vitality.

UEA 679

Pakistan, Swat Valley

Seated figure of Buddha

c.850-950 AD

Bronze with some silver content, silver

h. 7.4in (18.7cm)

Acquired 1977

The early Swat Valley and Kashmir statues were influenced by Gandharan art and in the 8th century were mostly ivories. But in the 9th-11th centuries bronze statues with silver and copper inlay were made. The figures have oval faces, arched eyebrows and fat chins.

This statue of Buddha has the facial features typical of Swat Valley figures. His elongated ears and ushnisha, which probably originally contained a flame, are marks of Buddhahood. The eyes show traces of silver. His monastic robe can be clearly seen. He is sitting in meditative pose on the lotus-petal throne supported by lions (traditionally indicating kingship). His right hand is in the varada mudra, or boon-conferring gesture, and he seems to hold the end of his robe in his left hand (this is more common in standing statues). The decoration behind his head is probably the back of the throne rather than the more traditional cosmic circle.

Jain Statues

Jains (the followers of Mahavir) strictly obeyed four basic rules: ahisma, or strict non-violence; truthful speech; no stealing; no covetousness. They were completely precluded from any work that might take life, including agriculture, because even tilling the ground containing life forms was forbidden. They therefore tended to be businessmen and there were many rich Jain merchants in western India trading from the western seaports. They sponsored some of India's most important paintings and sculptures. After a year of wandering and preaching, Mahavir threw away his loin cloth and went naked, which is why Jain statues are always shown naked. Fasting was an important part of Mahavir's life and he in fact died during a fast, aged only 40 years.

Like Buddhist statues, Jain figures may be shown standing or in a sitting meditative pose. The body is immobile, indicating supreme repose and the head straight with contemplative eyes. Jain statues can be identified by a diamond-shaped mark on the chest and always represent one of the 24 Jain Tirthankaras or saviours.

UEA 678

Western India

Seated figure of the Jain Tirthankara, Rishabhanatha

c.700

Bronze on clay core

h. 7.1in (18.1cm)

Acquired 1977

UEA 678 is an early Jain statue of the first Tirthankara, Rishabha, indicated by the long hair. He is represented as a naked aesthete in typical yoga pose. His legs are crossed, the soles of the feet uppermost and his hands are folded in the dhayana mudra of meditiaion. Behind his head is the cosmic circle with occasional flames.

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