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9. Buddha Sakyamuni India, Tamil Nadu, Nagapattinam 11th c. granite Height 160 cm, Width 115 cm. |
Consecrated to the memory of the historical Buddha Sakyamuni, this large temple statue is intended as a reminder of the great teacher and his doctrine. Buddhism is a rational philosophy and developed some 2500 years ago a way of life based on the acceptance of world reality. Existence for the Buddhists is suffering, caused by desire. The goal of Buddhist teaching is to attain a release from existence, which in turn leads to the spiritual state of Nirvana, the Buddhist heaven. Buddha images from the Nagapattinam region are of a remarkable style. The present monumental example is portrayed in the classic posture of meditation, his hands one on top of the other and resting on the sole of his right foot, in the gesture of contemplation (dhyanamudra). Buddha is clothed in a thin almost transparent monastic robe and has articulated nipples and navel. A roll of flesh below the navel adds a realistic touch to the well modelled torso. The ears are elongated, symbolizing Buddha’s royal origin. Rows of curls cover his head and ushnisa, the symbol of wisdom, which is topped by a large five-tongued flame. A fragmentary nimbus is remains behind Buddha’s head. The celebrated philosopher Samkaracharya, who was active in the eighth century, is regarded by Hindus as the destroyer of Buddhism in India. By the eleventh century Buddhism no longer influenced religious life in the south of the sub-continent. The great exception, however, is the important Buddhist site of Nagapattinam. Situated on the eastern coast in the Tanjore district, the Palavas used this site as their main dockyard, and it remained a Buddhist centre until the fifteenth century. It was a significant trading place and maintained close relationships with Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. For that reason the Buddhist sculptures produced in Nagapattinam show stylistic similarities with the famous monumental rock carvings at Polonaruva. In stone sculpture preference was given to the depiction of the meditating Buddha. The back of the present Buddha is unfinished in detail, indicating that it was made to be seen frontally. The finely delineated facial features include arched eyebrows and echo the classical stone sculptures of the Chola period. The raising of monumental images to awe the worshipper is common in Buddhism. The confrontation with the present Buddha evokes a high level of emotional intensity. The sculpture’s impressive size not only enhances the feeling of a great being but the masterful carving in hard granite reveals a superb inspired and artistic level. Facial features are well delineated and the volumes of all parts of the body harmoniously flow into each other. Not only is this the largest classic sculpture originating from Nagapattinam known in the West, it is also of the highest quality, a convincing icon of the great teacher. Provenance: Private collection USA. Art Loss Register Certificate, Reference S00000961. R. Newman, The Stone Sculpture of India. A Study of the Materials. Used by Indian Sculptures from ca. 2nd B.C. to the 16th century, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1984, n°12. India, Buddha, Nagapattinam, ca 11th century, height 74,9 cm, Los Angeles County Museum of Art. P. Pal, Light of Asia. Buddha Sakyamuni in Asian Art, Los Angeles County Museum, Los Angeles, 1984, p.226, n°109. India, Tamil Nadu, Buddha under the Bodhi Tree, Nagapattinam, 9th century, height 180,3 cm. P. Pal, Asian art at the Norton Simon Museum: art from the Indian Subcontinent, Norton Simon Museum, vol. I, Yale University Press, New Haven and London, 2003, p.258, pl.184, India, Tamil Nadu, Buddha Sakyamuni, c.1100, height 127 cm, F.1975.17.3.S. |