NORTHERN INDIA.

UTTAR PRADESH.

FROM THE VICINTY OF KAUSHAMBI.

POST-GUPTA PERIOD.

CIRCA 8TH CENTURY

H. 77 CMS, 30 ¼ INS.

W. 40 CMS, 15 ¾ INS.

An important buff sandstone stele depicting the Buddha seated on a raised throne decorated with a vajra, his right hand lowered in bhumisparsimudra and the left holding a fold of his robe, the throne with a pair of praying female acolytes to the sides and two lions flanking an apsara with hand raised to make an offering; the periphery of the stele with leogryphs, makaras and surmounted by a pair of seated bodhisattvas, garland bearers, two further praying acolytes and a further Buddha reposed in parinirvana.

Kaushambi was one of the six most prosperous Indian cities in the Buddha's period and was visited by him in the 6th and 9th years after having attained enlightenment. During both visits he delivered sermons, thereby making it a centre of learning for Buddhists.

There are few examples of Buddhas from this area and period. In some instances, contemporary sculptures of Jain tirthankaras have been modified to be Buddhas by removing the auspicious srivasta mark on the chest but there is no evidence that this has been done here.

There is also no sign that the parinirvana Buddha at the apex has been adapted from the parasol often found adorning Jain figures. For two related, though slightly later images of Jain tirthankaras from Uttar Pradesh with similar iconography, please see cat. no. 23 in P. Pal, Jain Art from India: The Peaceful Liberators, New York: Thames and Hudson, 1994 and pl. 132 in John Guy, Indian Temple sculpture, London: V&A Publications, 2007.

The Khajuraho Museum has a rare, late example of a seated Buddha – see fig. 252 in M. Bussagli, 5000 Years of the Art of India, New York: Harry N. Abrams Inc., 1971.