Buddha image, Mahabodhi temple

Buddha image, Mahabodhi temple, Bodhgaya

Buddha image
Mahabodhi temple
Bodhgaya, India
© John Huntington

Model of the Mahabodhi Temple, Museum no. IS.21-1986

Model of the Mahabodhi Temple, Museum no. IS.21-1986

Model of the Mahabodhi Temple
Schist
Bihar, India
12th century AD
Museum no. IS.21-1986
Height: 12 cm; Width 5 cm; Depth 7.5 cm

Descriptions of Bodhgaya refer to periodic restorations and the architectural style evident in this model suggest that it post-dates the extensive renovations of the temple by Burmese donors in the late 11th century. Models of this kind were made a substitutes for pilgrimage, to enable those unable to make the journey to experience this holy centre of Buddhism.

Vajrasana, Mahabodhi Temple

Vajrasana, Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya © John Huntington

Vajrasana, Mahabodhi Temple
Bodhgaya, Bihar, India
© John Huntington

Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya

Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya

Mahabodhi Temple
Bodhgaya, Bihar, India
Photograph by John Clarke, 2009

Seated Buddha, Bodhgaya

Seated Buddha, Bodhgaya, Museum no. 617-1872

Seated Buddha
Black stone or marble
Bengal or Bihar, Eastern India
11th-12th century (Pala period)
Museum no. IS.617-1872

The Buddha is represented crowned and bejewelled in the style of a royal figure. He wears a tall crown and transparent robe which clings to the body and is adorned with a necklace and earrings. The use of royal imagery to evoke spiritual authority is apparent in this sculpture. He is seated on a double lotus throne beneath which rests a thunderbolt sceptre (vajra), symbol of an enlightened mind. With his right hand he points to the earth as witness of his enlightenment and beneath the vajra the Earth Goddess Prithvi appears, bearing witness to the Buddha's authority, with kneeling devotees on either side. To the Buddha's right stands the Bodhisattva Padmapani (holding a lotus stem) whilst on the left is the Bodhisattva Maitreya. Seated on lotus thrones above the standing figures are the Bodhisattvas Vajrapani and Manjusri with celestial beings carrying scarves flying above them. Makara (sea monsters) and kinnara (bird-legged celestial musicians) appear on the back of the Buddha's throne.

Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya

Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya

Stupas and garlands
Mahabodhi Temple
Bodhgaya, Bihar, India
Photograph by John Clarke, 2009

Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya

Mahabodhi Temple, Bodhgaya

Mahabodhi Temple
Bodhgaya, Bihar, India
Photograph by John Clarke, 2009

Miniature stupas, Bodhgaya

Miniature stupas, Bodhgaya

Miniature stupas
Bodhgaya, Bihar, India
Photograph by John Clarke, 2009

Pillar, Bodhgaya

Pillar, Bodhgaya, Museum no. IS.1065-1883

Pillar
Sandstone
Bodhgaya, Bihar, Eastern India
1st century BC-1st century AD (Maurya-Sunga period)
Museum no. IS.1065-1883
Given by Surgeon-Major F A Turton

This pillar was found in Bodhgaya and formed part of the original sandstone railing surrounding the tree shrine at Bodhgaya, marking the site of the Buddha's enlightenment.

The pillar is decorated on two faces with roundels, the upper roundel shows devotees worshipping the sacred Bodhi tree and a princely figure receiving a hunter with a bird on a pole. This is probably a scene from the Hamsa Jataka story which recounts the Buddha's previous existence as a goose who offered his life for another. A Brahmi inscription records the pillar as 'the gift of the noble lady Kurangi'.

Votive seal, Museum no. IM.123-1999

Votive seal, Museum no. IM.123-1999

Votive seal with the Buddha and attendant Bodhisattvas
Moulded terracotta clay
Bihar, India
10th century AD
Museum no. IS.123-1999
Diameter: 8.9 cm

All major sites marking key events in the life of the Buddha assumed an ongoing importance in the Buddhist world as major pilgrim centres. The production of votives and other auspicious objects was an important activity, both for objects to be deposited by pilgrims as meritorious offerings and to be taken away as pilgrim souvenirs. This clay votive would have served as such a religious souvenir. It depicts the Buddha enthroned on a lotus (padmasana), seated in the earth-touching gesture (bhumisparsamudra). He is flanked by two fly-whisk bearing attendant bodhisattvas, one flanked by a lotus stem, suggesting an identification as Avalokitesvara-Padmapani. All three figures have flaming halos and are supported by a lotus flower. The Buddha’s posture points to this seal being produced at Bodhgaya, the site of the Buddha’s enlightenment. The entire composition is surrounded by small stupas (chaityas) and a seal impression in the lower rim bears an indecipherable inscription.

Model of the Mahabodhi Temple, Museum no. IS.50-1995

Model of the Mahabodhi Temple, Museum no. IS.50-1995

Model of the Mahabodhi Temple
Wood, painted and gilded
Tibet
circa 15th century AD
Museum no. IS.50-1995
Height: 9 cm; Width: 8.5 cm; Length: 13.5 cm

The model is decorated with relief panels and two pillars, carved in a distinctive Newari (Nepalese) style. The model is missing its main tower (sikhara) and the miniature stupas which would have decorated the upper platform. Models of this kind were made a substitutes for pilgrimage, to enable those unable to make the journey to experience this holy centre of Buddhism.