Gandhara, Dipankara

2nd-3rd century, Gandhara, Swat Valley, Dipamkara, schist, 162,6 cm, private collection, photo here and on Indian & Southeast Asian Art lot 15,  Sotheby’s

In Gandharan sculpture, this buddha of the past usually appears in a narrative involving other characters including a young brahman who appears three times before him (see below).

3rd-5th century, Gandhara, Dipamkara Jataka, schist, 69,3 cm, photo and detailed explanation on Miho Museum (Japan).

The central figure is Dipankara/Dipamkara, who raises his right hand in the gesture of reassurance and holds a piece of his garment in the other. At his feet, on one side we can see Megha buying some flowers from a woman. On the other side the same Megha offering the flowers then prostrating himself before the buddha and allowing him to use his hair to protect his feet from the mud. Above, an elated Megha is floating in the air. The character on the other side holds a large vajra sceptre and wears a flat cap like Indra (in the Shakyamuni narratives, the man holding a vajra sceptre is Vajrapani). According to the legend, Dipamkara told Megha that one day he would be an enlightened being himself, referring to Shakyamuni (see Tibetan Buddhist Encyclopedia ).

Circa 2nd century, Gandhara, Dipankara Jataka, schist with gold leaf, 22,2 cm high, inventory nº 1998.491 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (USA).

1st-2nd century, Gandhara, panel with two episodes from the Dipamkara Jataka, schist, 49,2 cm, inventory 1980,0225.1 at the British Museum in London (UK).

Gandhara, the exchange of clothes

2nd-3rd century, Gandhara, Siddhartha, the exchange of clothes, green schist, 24,7 cm high, Gandharan Buddhist Art from the Collection of a Prince lot 225, 20th September 2007, Christie’s.

Siddhartha Gautama offers his princely garments to a hunter in exchange for his modest clothes.

2nd-3rd century, Gandhara, Siddhartha, the exchange of clothes, schist, 32,7 cm, the Claude de Marteau Collection Part III, lot 38, 12th June 2023, Bonhams (Paris).

On this panel he is flanked by Vajrapani, who holds a large vajra sceptre in his left hand.

2nd-3rd century, Gandhara, Nimogram, Siddhartha, the exchange of clothes, schist, from a photo by Joan Anastasia Raducha on Nimogram

Gandhara, Vajrapani (8)

The following scenes featuring Vajrapani with the historical buddha are from stone reliefs found at the site of Nimogram (Swat, Pakistan), photographed by Joan Anastasia Raducha and published by the University of Wisconsin on Nimogram. They are all dated around 100 – 299 AD.

Vajrapani figures, schist, photo NG014.

On this particular panel, not one but various bearded figures at the back hold a vajra sceptre in one of their hands.

Figured relief, soapstone, level 2 stupa 5 E, photo NG014.

Vajrapani depicted like an elderly man with long hair and full beard and moustache, his chest bare. His right hand is raised and may have held an object, such as a flower or a fly whisk.

Narrative relief, schist, photo NG400.

Vajrapani as a youth, wearing a short tunic held in place with a belt.

Buddha figures with attendants, schist, photo NG015.

His attribute, especially when it is large, is often upright against his shoulder (in most cases, the left one if he stands to the left of the Buddha and the right one if he stands to his right).

False gable, schist, photo NG425.

Here he holds the vajra sceptre against his left hip and raises what looks like a large flower in his right hand.

Figured relief, stone, level 3, stupa 7 W, photo NG292.

Vajrapani coiffed with a turban (but not a crested one like the other three attendants).

Gandhara, Vajrapani (7)

2nd-4th century, Gandhara, Vajrapani and a pair of Buddha’s disciples, schist, 24,7 cm, private collection, Buddhist Art Online lot 9, 10th August 2021, Bonhams (Hong Kong).

In Gandharan sculpture the bodhisattva Vajrapani is often depicted near the Buddha, along with other figures. In this case he stands to the left of the main figure now missing and holds his attribute in the left hand; the disciples are probably Maudgalyayana and Shariputra, who usually stand together and may have held a bowl in their left hand and a khakkhara staff in the other.

2nd-3rd century, Gandhara, Vajrapani and devotees, schist, 17 cm, private collection, photo as before, lot 5.

4th century, Gandhara, ‘Vajrapani holding vajra sceptre’ , schist, 17,5 cm, private collection, Asian Art at Bruun Rasmussen lot 32, 29th November 2022, Bonhams (Copenhagen).

Gandhara, Shakyamuni (2)

2nd-3rd century, Gandhara, Buddha with Disciples, stone, 38 cm, private collection, Fine Chinese Art lot 231, 9th March 2023, Galerie Zacke.

3rd-4th century, Gandhara, Buddha, stucco, 110 cm, private collection, photo as before, lot 229.

2nd-3rd century, Gandhara, Shakyamuni, schist, 64,5 cm, private collection, Arts d’Asie lot 159, 15th June 2023, Sotheby’s (Paris).

3rd-4th century, Gandhara, The Teaching Buddha, schist, 31 cm, private collection, Asian Art at Bruun Rasmussen lot 31, 29th November 22, Bonhams (Copenhagen).

3rd-4th century, Gandhara, Meditating Buddha Flanked by Two Disciples, schist, 22 cm, private collection, photo as before, lot 35.

Undated, Gandhara, Buddha with two bodhisattvas, a monk, a donor, schist, 20 cm, photo by Daniel Arnaudet, nº MG21157 at the Musée Guimet in Paris (France).

3rd-5th century, Gandhara, Shakyamuni, schist, 51,5 cm, private collection, Indian and Himalayan Art lot 150, 21st March 2023, Sotheby’s.

A rare statue of the historical buddha with an intact solar disc behind his head.

Gandhara, Scenes from the Life of the Buddha (2)

2nd-3rd century, Gandhara, the Gift of Anathapindada possibly, schist with traces of gold foil, 24,4 cm, accession nº 1987.142.1 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (with explanatory notes), New York (USA).

Circa 3rd century, Gandhara, schist relief panel with scenes of the birth of Buddha, 29,5 cm, The Robert and Jean-Pierre Rousset Collection of Asian Art, lot 21, 25th October 2022 on Bonhams (Paris).

A scene depicting the new-born Siddhartha Gautama in the arms of his mother or perhaps his aunt, transported in a chair carried by various figures, led by Indra and Brahma (who holds a staff).

2nd-3rd century, (Gandhara), Kushan dynasty, Scenes from the Life of the Buddha, stone, accession nº F1949.9 at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art in Washington DC (USA).

The figure with a distinctive cap is Indra, the Hindu god, holding a cloth to receive the baby who emerges from his mother’s side.

Same as before, The Enlightenment. We will note Vajrapani, standing to the left of the Buddha, who is seated under the bodhi tree and has defeated Mara.

Same as before, The First Sermon at the Deer Park in Sarnath.

Seated on a throne decorated with a dharma wheel and a couple of deer, Shakyamuni raises his right hand to dispel fear while making his first sermon. Again, Vajrapani stands to his left.

Parinirvana (see on wikimedia ).

Gandhara, the Buddha with Indra and Brahma

Friezes from Gandhara often depict the Hindu gods Indra (in princely attire and coiffed with a turban) and Brahma (with the appearance of an ascetic) near the historical buddha. On the following works, they make the gesture of salutation while urging him to preach the law of dharma.

1st-2nd century, Kushan Period, Gandhara, Buddha worshipped by the Gods Indra and Brahma, schist, 39,9 cm, high, inventory nº 1995.263 at the Art Institute of Chicago (USA).

The Buddha, depicted like an ascetic, is seated under the bodhi tree, his legs locked, his hands in the gesture of meditation. He has an aureole, and celestial beings above his head display a round object, possibly a solar wheel. Brahma is on the left of the viewer and Indra on the other side. All three have a moustache and wear a lower garment and a long piece of cloth slung over the left shoulder, leaving the chest bare.

2nd-3rd century, Swat Valley (Kushan Period, Gandhara Culture), Indra and Brahma entreat the Buddha to preach, 40 cm, private collection, photo by Carlton Rochell on asianart.com

The same scene with the Buddha making the fear-allaying gesture with his right hand. He wears a robe that covers his chest and both shoulders.

2nd century, Gandhara, Kushan devotee couple around the Buddha, Brahma and Indra, anonymous photo on wikimedia , at the Musée Guimet in Paris (France).

Another variation in the draping of the garments. The Buddha makes the ‘turning the wheel of dharma‘ gesture.

1st century, Swat Valley (Kushan Period, Gandhara Culture), Indra and Brahma entreat the Buddha to Preach, schist, inventory nº B60S277 at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco (USA).

2nd-4th century, Swat Valley, (Gandhara Culture), bracket with Buddha, Brahma and Indra, schist, photo by Joan Anastasia Raducha on wisc.edu , from Nimogram Site (Pakistan).

Gandhara, scenes from the life of the Buddha

3rd-4th century, Gandhara, Offering of the Alms Bowls, schist, 27,9 cm, inventory nº B60S254 at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco (USA).

2nd-3rd century, Gandhara, Offering of the Bowls, schist, private collection, Beyond Boundaries, as below.

The four Heavenly Kings (guardians of the four directions on a mandala) present the historical buddha with gold bowls, which he declines. It is interesting to note that they are depicted in princely attire, like bodhisattvas – not dressed in armour as on much later Himalayan depictions.

2nd-3rd century, Gandhara, Great Miracle of Sravasti, schist, private collection, published in Beyond Boundaries: Buddhist Art of Gandhara for an exhibiiton at the  Berkeley Art Museum& Pacific Film Archive, University of California (USA).

The Buddha with (broken) flames emerging from his shoulders and water flowing from under his feet.

2nd-3rd century, Gandhara, Siddhartha at the Bodhi Tree, schist, 23,7 cm, inventory nº 1997.151 at the Cleveland Museum of Art (USA).

2nd-3rd century, Gandhara, The Great Departure, stone, 23,1 cm, private collection, Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian Art lot 7, 19th September 2002, Christie’s.

Prince Siddhartha leaving his home town, helped by yakshas who hold the hooves of his mount to reduce the noise.

Circa 2nd century, Gandhara, Victory over Mara, stone, photo by Suvadip Sanyal on wikimedia , inventory nº 2495/A23268 at the Indian Museum in Kolkata (India).

Gandhara, Shakyamuni

2nd-3rd century, Gandhara, Buddha, schist, 114,9 cm, The Burkhart Collection lot 230, 13th September 2011, Christie’s .

A large statue of the historical buddha, whose right hand would have been held up in the fear-allaying gesture; the left one holds a piece of his garment. He stands on a pedestal with lotus flowers on the sides and kneeling devotees around a fire altar at the front.

2nd-3rd century, Gandhara, Buddha, schist, 55,2 cm, The Burkhart Collection as before, lot 237.

Shakyamuni with both hands in the gesture of meditation, his seat covered with a cloth decorated with a fire altar, but no worshippers nearby.

2nd-3rd century, Gandhara, relief of Buddha, schist, 29,8 cm, The Burkhart Collection as before, lot 227.

Shakyamuni standing with his right hand held down in the gesture of generosity. The princely figure standing next to him could be Avalokiteshvara, who normally has a lotus in his left hand or Maitreya, would would hold a ritual water pot held by the neck but usually has a topknot tied with a beaded band rather than a jewelled turban – or prince Siddhartha himself, depicted as a bodhisattva.

2nd-3rd century, Gandhara, gable with Buddha, schist, 33,7 cm, The Burkhart Collection as before, lot 218.

Shakyamuni seated under the bodhi tree, surrounded by devotees. The inner arch is formed by scrolling vegetation, the outer one has a bird’s head at each end.

Gandhara, the triratna worship

The ‘adoration of the triratna’ is a recurrent theme in friezes from Gandhara. The three gems of Buddhism are represented by three dharma wheels or three lotuses resting on a column or on a three-prong structure supported by a wheel, a lotus, a yaksha, or other figures, atop a pedestal.

2nd century, Gandhara, Loriyan Tangai, Triratna, (stone), photo by Suvadip Sanyal on wikimedia , at the Indian Museum in Kolkata (India).

A rare image of a triratna – originally replacing the image of the Buddha – supported by a yaksha emerging from a column. We can see a celestial being, three figures in princely attire and four in monkish garb. On early works the wheels are often overlapping, and in this case they are arranged on two levels.

2nd century, Gandhara, Veneration of the Three Jewels, schist, photo by Daderot on wikimedia, at the Ethnological Museum in Berlin (Germany).

More often they are placed in a single row of three, in this case directly supported by a column. (Many thanks to ‘Daderot’, the author of the picture, who has posted on Wikimedia a large number of good-quality photographs of Buddhist sculptures in museums around the world, very useful for this blog).

2nd century, Gandhara, Buddha Preaching the Disciples, phyllite, 52 cm, inventory nº 25.51 at the The Walters Art Museum in Baltimore (USA).

This is a different setting since the hand held out towards the devotees is, as explained by the Museum, the hand of the Buddha, who would have been preaching near the triratna. The three wheels are supported by two women and three lions on lotuses, atop a column on a stepped plinth.

Undated, Gandhara, Jamalgarhi, Worship of Triratna, stone, 19 cm, inventory nº GD68/5250/A23225 at the Indian Museum in Kolkata (India).

Yet again a different arrangement, with the three wheels locked together.

2nd century, Gandhara, Nathu lower monastery, worship of Tiratana (sic), stone, photo by Anandajoti on wikimedia , at the Indian Museum in Kolkata (India).

As on the first image, a yaksha is supporting the triratna. We have seen many such yaksha figures (with one knee bent and the other knee raised and supporting the corresponding arm, or with both arms raised) supporting the throne of a buddha on later portable Himalayan sculptures.

2nd-3rd century, Gandhara, Triratna Adored, schist, 21,6 cm, The Burkhart Collection lot 234, 13th September 2011, Christie’s.

Here the artist has added lotus flowers between the ‘prongs’ of the trident-like support. The plinth is decorated with footprints of the Buddha.

3rd-4th century, Gandhara, The Adoration of the Triratna, schist, 45,1 cm, private collection, Devotion in Stone lot 617, 23rd September 2020, Christie’s

A triratna on a large lotus flower supported by a yaksha flanked by deer.

2nd-3rd century, Gandhara, Triratna Adored, schist, 19,7 cm, Indian and Southeast Asian Art lot 207, 22nd March 2011, Christie’s.

A triratna made of three lotus flowers, supported by a wheel of dharma on an open base with four columns.