Early Buddhist Art in India

Sculptures and other archaeological finds discovered in the ancient city of Gandhara provided a very different picture than the ‘traditional’ Indian Buddhist art. While in the Gandhara style Buddha was humanized, in the early Indian school, Buddha was represented by a series of symbols, each reflective of a specific and important event in his life. The oldest examples of Buddhist art date approximately to 274-232 BC (Marshall 7). The most prevalent of these sculptures centered on the four chief events of the Buddha’s life – his birth, Illumination, First Sermon and death. The lotus flower – the international flower of India – symbolizes Buddha’s miraculous birth, for it blooms under water. Often, Maya – the Buddha’s mother – appears standing or sitting on the lotus flower (Marshall 10).

Source: Marshall Plate 3 Fig. 3

As the story goes, after years of searching for the truth, the Buddha finally became enlightened; this moment represents Buddha’s Illumination. The pipal tree, the asvattha, symbolizes this pivotal moment in the Buddha’s life, as it is where he sat, underneath its hovering leaves, and entered deep Samadhi (meditation). In certain cases, the seat of the Buddha is placed at the foot of the pipal tree, while in other sculptures, the pipal tree is enshrined in a temple with the armies of the evil Mara on the one side, and the heavenly hosts proclaiming the Buddha’s triumph on the other (Marshall 10).

Source: Marshall Plate 5 Fig. 7

Source: Marshall Plate 3 Fig. 4 (b)

Thirdly, the Buddha’s First Sermon took place at the deer park and, therefore, is very appropriately represented by several deer. In other instances, the ‘Wheel of the Law’ – dharmacakra – symbolizes the First Sermon. It was believed that the Buddha metaphorically set the Wheel of the Law in motion (Marshall 10). And finally, the Death of the Buddha – mahaparinirvana – is illustrated by the stupa wherein his relics reside (Marshall 10).

Source: Marshall Plate 3 Fig. 5