The Art of India Buddhist and Hindu Art and Architecture

Development of Buddhism in India Religious practice in India is complex All Indian religions share features in common and have flourished side by side Difficult to divide Indian art into Hindu, Jain, or Buddhist which is more typical of European thinking We attempt to bring order and understanding to a body of material “without order” We’ll organized it in an attempt to better understand it However, historical methodologies are not inherent to cultural practices of the Indian subcontinent Giant Buddha statue in northeastern India. The Buddha lived in India sometime Between the sixth and fourth centuries BCE

Development of Buddhism in India Buddhism centers on the life and teaching of the Buddha. Born Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha lived in India sometime between the six and fourth centuries BCE After his own personal enlightenment her undertook the role of teacher Passed along his knowledge of the path to spiritual awakening to countless disciples and followers Ashokan Pillar at Vaishali, India, the location where Buddha is believed To have preached his last sermon

Development of Buddhism in India Central goal of Buddhism is attainment of Nirvana A state of peace and liberation from worldly suffering Buddha taught the Dharma (law) of the Four Noble Truths: 1.Life is suffering 2.The cause of suffering is desire 3.Desire can be overcome 4.The way to conquer desire is to follow the Eight-Fold Path Buddha painting in Dambulla cave temple, Sri Lanka. The cave-temple Complex was established as a Buddhist Monastery in the 3 rd century BCE

Development of Buddhism in India The Path includes Right understanding Right thought Right speech Right action Right livelihood Right effort Right mindfulness Right concentration To follow this path and achieve nirvana is to be free from the endless cycle of painful life, death, and rebirth (samsara) Buddha painting in Dambulla cave temple, Sri Lanka. The cave-temple Complex was established as a Buddhist Monastery in the 3 rd century BCE

Development of Buddhism in India Many variations on Buddhist beliefs and practices, but these teachings are generally of importance to all Buddhism flourished over the course of its 2,500 year history It is the dominant religion in countries such as Japan, Burma, Sri Lanka, and much of mainland Southeast Asia Buddhism developed in India Art and architecture survives from early history – period in which foundations were being laid Early models had a lasting influence on Buddhist art throughout the world

Development of Buddhism in India First objects that can be identified as connected to Buddhism are symbolic pillars that date from the third century BCE Columns a continuation of an ancient tradition in India – pillars with elaborate Persian-inspired capitals that were built and worshipped in the region long before Buddhism New version of the form took shape under Emperor Ashoka (ruled BCE) who converted to Buddhism and spread the faith Interpretation is that the wheel signifies motion and progress, the four lions facing the four directions symbolize limitless sovereignty, the lion itself representing the power of State. The lotus represents creative activity.

Development of Buddhism in India Emperor Ashoka also responsible for distributing the Buddha’s ashes throughout India Had them interred in a series of 84,000 stupas across the country, one of which, the Great Stupa, we will discuss in depth Ashoka’s conversion and patronage of art is central to the development of Buddhist forms we know today The stupa in Sri Lanka is a circular drum on a square base with a long succession of compressed umbrellas forming a conical top over a box-shaped harmika The Ruwanweliseya stupa, (above) at Anuradhapura (3rd century BC) is an example

Development of Buddhism in India Buddhism has evolved into a highly complex faith with an elaborate artistic culture Various ‘reminders” have been developed to make the narratives and principles understandable to followers Functional objects such as alms bowls and reliquaries to hold ashes of the Buddha or other important individuals, canonical texts, statures, and paintings have been created Reliquary in the form of a Stupa Gandhara, Pakistan 1st Century CE Green Schist Height: 18.5cm (7.25 inches)

Development of Buddhism in India Buddhist art has been created in a wide variety of materials including bronze, wood, clay, stone, and paint as well as dry lacquer, palm leaves, birch bark, embroidered silk, ivory, jade, gold, and porcelain Today, works are even shaped through butter carving and sand painting Sand painting Mandala is a representation of the universe. It has three levels: outer, inner and sacred. It’s believed that any one who participates or even witnesses the creation and destruction of a mandala has been purified, uplifted, and enlightened by the sacred energies of the spirits.

Development of Buddhism in India One of the most important reasons for the wealth of Buddhist art is that lay followers are granted merit (karma) for donating to temples Enormous numbers of books, images, buildings and ritual implements were created, often mass-produced, to meet the demands of worshippers Repetition is an emphasis in Buddhist practice and art production Temples with a thousand statues and even dedications of a million small votive figures are common Votive offerings: Figures of Buddha covered with gold flakes

Development of Buddhism in India Scale of Buddhist objects ranges from tiny illuminated manuscripts to colossal statues and monumental buildings with rival the pyramids in size Most important objects or locations are connected to the Buddha himself such as his ashes, his alms bowl, and his staff Eight sites that were central to his life and ministry have become places of veneration, including the location where he achieved enlightenment at Bodh Gaya and the site of his first sermon at Sarnath One of the most popular forms of veneration is the “footprint” of the Buddha Often gigantic in size and adorned with a wealth of symbols, these markers note places where he is believed to have stepped during one of his many lives

There are 108 symbols by which the Buddha can be recognized with an enormous amount of information stored in the Buddha's footprint. Scholars have devoted years to the study of these symbols.

Development of Buddhism in India Buddhist architecture includes a variety of building types such as stupas and pagodas for worship, as well as elaborate facilities to support monastic communities Buddhist monasteries include libraries and residence halls for monks and nuns, facilities for group meditation and instruction, bell towers, drum towers, image halls Monasteries are connected to a broad network of holy sites many of which developed out of the Jatakas, stories which tell of events from the previous lives of the Buddha These tales led to an increase in the number of pilgrimage sites, often with corresponding monasteries and shrines Bagan, Myanmar 13,000 Temples in the largest abandoned religious complex in the world

Development of Buddhism in India An important evolution in Buddhism which had a significant impact on artistic production was the development of its two main branches About 500 years after the Buddha’s lifetime, Buddhist doctrine split when a new school developed around the idea that salvation was possible for all, not just those who followed a strict, monastic path Called Mahayana, it became distinct from the older approach now identified as Theravada Both shared common goal of nirvana and an end to the cycle of birth/death/rebirth Mahayana emphasized the belief the the mortal teacher of the Buddha was an earthly expression of his spiritual being This focus on a celestial Buddha was in contrast with the traditional emphasis on the human Buddha and his role as a model of right behavior The more devotional and esoteric version of Buddhism espoused by Mahayanas led to elaborate, splendid, symbolic imagery rather than the Theravada’s meditative images of the Buddha’s life and teaching.