Pala India, Shakyamuni (12)

11th century, Northeastern India, Kurkihar, The Crowned Buddha, copper alloy with silver inlay, 43,2 cm, Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian Art lot 764, photo and extensive notes by Sosi Mehren on Bonhams

From a series of standing Crowned Buddha portable sculptures made in the state of Bihar during the late Pala Period, this work still has the ‘tortoise’ pedestal (representing a yantra) that supports the lotus base; the one-piece flaming halo topped with a parasol is now missing. On all the examples we have seen so far Shakyamuni makes the fear-allaying gesture with his right hand and holds a piece of his garment in the other.

11th-12th century, Northeastern India, The Eight Great Events, stone, 10,3 cm, private collection, Indian and Himalayan Art lot 824, 21st March 2024, Sotheby’s

11th-12th century, Eastern India, Scenes from the Life of the Buddha, stone, private collection, Indian, Himalayan and Southeast Asian Works of Art lot 754, 16th March 2016, Sotheby’s

We saw a similar stele from the Potala Collection in Lhasa (Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet Volume One by Ulrich von Schroeder, Visual Dharma Publications, Hong Kong, p. 401 pl. 129C) depicting the eight great events in the life of the Buddha: his birth, his first sermon, the taming of the elephant, the miracle at Sravasti, his descent from the Trayastrimsha heaven, the presentation of honey by the monkey, his death (always at the top) and the moment of his enlightenment (always at the centre of the stele). On these two examples his lotus throne is supported by two naga kings.

Pala Period, Northeastern India, found at Fatehpur, Shakyamuni, bronze, 27,8 cm, formerly in the Bodh Gaya Site Museum, sadly stolen in 1981, photo by the American Institute of Indian Studies, Gurgaon, in an article by Janice Leoshko (Fig. 8) on University of Michigan

9th century, India, Bodhgaya, the Buddha attended by Avalokiteshvara and Maitreya, (stone), photo by Janice Leoshko, 2007, in the above-mentioned article (Fig. 6), at the Patna Museum (India).

Avalokiteshvara, identified by the effigy of Amitabha on his head and the open lotus in his left hand, stands to the left of the Buddha. Maitreya, on the other side, has a stupa between his low tiara and his topknot and he holds a bunch of flowers, probably from a naga tree (mesua ferrea).

Circa 11th-12th century, India, Buddha, found at Antichak, Bihar, photo by Janice Leoshko as before (Fig. 7), 1987, at the Archaeological Survey of India Office in Patna (India).

Pala India, Vairocana (2)

12th century, Northeastern India, Vairochana, bronze with copper and silver inlay, 24,4 cm, photo posted by Stephen A. Murphy on resarchgate, at the Asian Civilisations Museum in Singapore.

The tathagata is seated on a lotus seat with an engraved backplate, surrounded by yakshas standing on makaras supporting boys riding viyalas, another two makaras on the cross bar, and a garuda head emerging from a cloudscape at the top (see the article by Gautama V. Vajracharya ‘Kirtimukha, the serpentine motif, and garuda: the story of a lion that turned into a big bird’ on jstor ). The legged plinth, whose design imitates a yantra, is decorated with two lions and a wheel at the front.

Pala India, Shakyamuni (10)

11th-12th century, Northeastern India, Bihar, Nalanda, ‘Buddha seated on a throne’, bronze, 18 cm, Indian and Southeast Asian Art lot 98, 21st September 2007, Christie’s

Shakyamuni seated under the bodhi tree, his right hand in the ‘calling Earth to witness’ gesture, the other displaying the gesture of meditation. The design of the lotus base is typical of the period and area.

(Pala period, Northeastern India), Shakyamuni, metal, photo by Sunil Dongol, Dharmadeva Caitya, Chabahil (Kathmandu, Nepal).

Shakaymuni holding a piece of his garment in his left hand and a small object in the other, resembling a manuscript. A dharma wheel is embossed in the palm of his hand and probably on the sole of each foot.

(Pala period, Northeastern India), Shakyamuni, metal, 10,2 cm, photo by Sunil Dongol, 2010, Dharmadeva Caitya as before.

Seated on a Nalanda-style lotus base with a flaming halo attached to it and a parasol above it, typical of the Pala period. He has both hands in the gesture of meditation to hold a bowl. The monkey attached to the base is perhaps an allusion to his previous reincarnation.

(Pala period, Northeastern India), Shakyamuni, metal, photo by Sunil Dongol, 2010, Dharmadeva Caitya, as before.

(Pala period, circa 11th century?, Northeastern India), Shakyamuni, metal, photo by Sunil Dongol, Dharmadeva Caitya as before.

We saw  on VMIS a similar statue of the crowned Buddha found at Kurkihar and kept at the Patna Museum. He wears a monastic garment that covers both shoulders and is adorned with a pointed crown with rosettes, earrings, a necklace. His right hand is raised to dispel fear, the other clutches the hem of his garment.

(Pala period, Northeastern India), Shakyamuni, metal, photo by Sunil Dongol, Dharmadeva Caitya, Carumati Stupa, Chabahil (Kathmandu, Nepal).

Pala India, seated buddhas (4)

9th century, Northeastern India, Bihar, double-sided buddha stele, sandstone, 72 cm, private collection, Asian Art Auction A185AS lot 433, 7th June 2018, Koller

One side of the sculpture depicts Shakyamuni preaching inside a niche with Kirtimukha at the top.

The other side is too damaged to ascertain whether the hand gesture is the same but we can see that his double-lotus seat is supported by a lotus stem and scrolling leaves.

10th-11th century, Eastern India, Maravijaya Buddha, stone, 29,8 cm, private collection, Dharma and Tantra lot 177, 18th September 2023, Sotheby’s

Maravijaya refers to the historical buddha calling the goddess Earth to witness his victory over the demon Mara with his right hand while the other is cupped in the gesture of meditation. On this example, he is flanked by Avalokiteshvara holding an open lotus (to his right) and Maitreya holding a ritual flask by the neck (on the other side). The goddess emerges between two columns at the centre of the lion throne. We can see a seated buddha on one side of the nimbus, which is topped with leaves from the bodhi tree. There was probably another figure on the missing portion.

11th century, Northeastern India, Buddha Shakyamuni, bronze, 6,4 cm, private collection, Asian Art lot 1141, 30th November 2023, Sotheby’s

11th-12th century, India, The Crowned Buddha, black chlorite, 34 cm, Asian Art Auction A552AS lot 337, 27th March 2010, Koller

Flanked by stupas, Shakyamuni in his crowned buddha form is preaching under the bodhi tree. A wheel (dharmacakra) decorates the front of his throne. He wears a monastic garment that leaves the right arm bare. The armband on the other arm shows through the thin fabric.

Pala India, Shakyamuni – stone (2)

Circa 10th century, Northeastern India, The Major Events in the Life of Shakyamuni, stone, 23 cm, photo: courtesy of Ulrich von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet Volume One, Visual Dharma Publications, Hong Kong, p. 399 pl. 128A, Potala Collection, Lima Lhakhang inventory nº 1657, Lhasa (Tibet).

In his beautifully illustrated book, Ulrich von Schroeder explains that these events are also known as the ‘eight great miraculous events’ or ‘eight great illusory displays’, which happened at the ‘eight great places’. On this stele, the birth of Siddhartha is depicted in the bottom left corner (with the baby coming out of his mother’s side) and the scene of his death at the top. His defeat over Mara occupies the central place and shows him with his right hand to the ground, calling the goddess Earth to witness the event.

11th-12th century, Northeastern India, Buddha Shakyamuni, stone, 12,8 cm, photo as before (p. 383 pl. 122C), Potala Collection, inventory nº 1566 at the Lima Lhakhang, Lhasa (Tibet).

Shakyamuni, seated under the bodhi tree, is flanked here by Maitreya (identified by the ritual water pot on the flower to his left, and his hand gesture) and Avalokiteshvara (who holds an open lotus in his left hand). According to the author’s detailed notes, the other two figures are Shakyamuni holding an alms bowl and Shakyamuni in meditation.

Pala India, crowned buddha (8)

11th century, Northeastern India, Standing Crowned Shakyamuni, brass, 25 cm, photo: courtesy of Ulrich von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet Volume One, Visual Dharma Publications, Hong Kong, p. 246 pl. 76A, Potala Collection, Lima Lhakhang inventory nº 1154, Lhasa (Tibet).

One of a series of brass or copper alloy crowned buddhas standing on a small double-lotus base with their right hand raised in the gesture of reassurance and the other clutching a piece of their garment, which covers both arms, coiffed with a tall three-leaf crown with rosettes and ribbons, adorned with earrings and a necklace or two, the eyes and urna usually inlaid with silver (covered with cold gold in this case).

11th-12th century, Northeastern India, Shakyamuni?(labelled ‘Vairocana’), stone, private collection, Fine Chinese Art lot 241, 9th March 2023, Galerie Zacke.

The monastic garment and the Earth-touching gesture correspond to Shakyamuni in his crowned buddha form. The tathagatas (direction buddhas) only wear a lower garment, sometimes a scarf or a sash, and they are adorned various necklaces including a longer one, armbands, bracelets, and anklets (see below).

11th-12th century, Northeastern India, Bihar, Akshobhya, gilt copper alloy and pigments, published by Dr. Pratapaditya Pal in Indian Sculpture Volume Two, p. 184. Fig. 86, inventory nº M78.9.18 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (USA) (nowhere to be found on their website).

Apart from his hand gestures combined with a bodhisattva appearance, Akshobhya is identified by the elephants on the lotus stem.

Pala India, sets

Circa 11th century, Northeastern India, Five Tathagatas, brass, 32 cm, photo: courtesy of Ulrich von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet Volume One, Visual Dharma Publications, Hong Kong, p. 308 pl. 105B, Potala Collection, Lima Lhakhang inventory nº 428, Lhasa (Tibet).

A set of the five direction buddhas, with Vairocana at the centre making his characteristic gesture of enlightenment. The others are, from left to right, Ratnasambhava, who displays a gem in the palm of his right hand, Akshobhya, who makes the Earth-touching gesture and may have held an upright vajra sceptre in his left hand, Amitabha, who has both hands in the gesture of meditation and may have held a begging bowl, Amoghasiddhi, who makes the fear-allaying gesture with his right hand. As pointed out by the author, although they are depicted with a princely appearance, four of them wear a monastic garment (yet they are adorned with the full set of princely jewellery, including bracelets), Vairocana is the only one who has a ‘bodhisattva appearance’, as is the case with similar sets from Kashmir seen previously.

11th century, Northeastern India, Manjughosa, Shakyamuni, Yama (?), brass, 16,7 cm, photo as before (p. 273 pl. 88C), Potala Collection, Kun bzang rjes ‘gro lha khang inventory nº 227, Lhasa (Tibet).

All three figures on this set are making the teaching gesture (dharmacakra mudra, often translated as ‘turning the wheel of dharma’ or ‘setting the wheel of dharma into motion). To his right, Manjushri holds the stem of a blue lily that supports the hilt of a sword. The attendant with a  yaksha appearance on the other side wears the same jewellery, crown, and finial as Manjushri. Yama is his wrathful emanation but there is no attribute or distinctive feature that would identify him beyond doubt.

12th century, Northeastern India or Tibet, Trisamayavyuhamuni, brass and copper, 26,5 cm, photo as before (p. 275 pl. 89B), Potala Collection, Lima Lhakhang inventory nº 1397, Lhasa (Tibet).

Shakyamuni is flanked by a male and a female both identified by the author as Vajradhara (‘vajra-holder’); he holds his attribute upright in both hands before his heart, she holds it in her left hand and has a jewel in the other. Below them are Anantadaraka, who holds a flaying knife and a skull cup, and Anantadarika who makes the gesture of debate and holds a lotus.

Pala India, Shakyamuni – seated

11th-12th century, Northeastern India, Buddha Shakyamuni, brass with cold gold, pigment, 25 cm, photo: courtesy of Ulrich von Schroeder (Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet, Volume One, Visual Dharma Publications, Hong Kong, p. 268, pl. 86B), Potala Collection, inventory nº 1531 at the Lima Lhakhang in Lhasa (Tibet).

11th-12th century, Northeastern India, Buddha Shakyamuni, brass with, cold gold, pigment, turquoise and glass replacement, 28,1 cm, photo as before (p. 268, pl. 86A), Potala Collection, inventory nº 1530 at the Lima Lhakhang in Lhasa (Tibet).

Same as before, 35,8 cm, photo as above (p. 269, pl. 86C), Potala Collection, inventory nº 1529 at the Lima Lhakhang in Lhasa (Tibet).

Pala India, Shakyamuni (10)

8th century, Northeastern India, Buddha Shakyamuni, brass, 15,6 cm, photo: courtesy of Ulrich von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet Volume One, Visual Dharma Publications, Hong Kong, p. 228 pl. 67A, Jokhang/gTsug Lhakhang Collection, inventory nº 596, Lhasa (Tibet).

The historical buddha is surrounded by a flaming mandorla with individually crafted flames on the outer edge, leaves from the bodhi tree and two lotus flowers fastened with rods above his shoulders in the open space – the throne is missing. His right hand makes the ‘Earth calling’ gesture, the other is in the gesture of meditation.

9th-10th century, Northeastern India, Buddha Shakyamuni, brass, 16,5 cm, photo as above, p. 230 pl. 68A, Jokhang/gTsug Lhakhang Collection, inventory nº 544, Lhasa (Tibet).

A well-preserved work with a four-legged lion throne covered with a cloth, a viyala standing on an elephant atop a lotus on each side of the Buddha, a flaming nimbus with a bodhi tree sculpted on it, two miniature stupas on a lotuses, a parasol at the top.

10th century, Northeastern India, Crowned Buddha Shakyamuni, brass, 18,5 cm, photo as before, p. 234 pl. 70A, Potala Collection, Sa gsum lha khang inventory nº 2013, Lhasa (Tibet).

Circa 9th-10th century, Northeastern India, Buddha stele, granite, 52 cm, private collection, photo on Galerie Hioco .

Shakyamuni, flanked by a female and a male attendant, is seated on Muchalinda (also spelt Mucalinda, Mucilinda, Muchilinda) whose head forms a canopy to protect him from a storm. The kneeling figure below may be the donor.

8th-12th century, Northeastern India, Bihar, Buddha, stone, 36 cm, private collection, photo on Galerie Hioco 

Pala India, Birth of Siddhartha

8th century, Northeastern India, Mayadevi giving birth to Siddhartha at Lumbini, brass, 16,5 cm, photo: courtesy of Ulrich von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet Volume One, Visual Dharma Publications, Hong Kong, p. 228 pl. 67B, Potala Collection, Lima Lhakhang, inventory nº 612, Lhasa (Tibet).

The newly-born Siddhartha is depicted twice: first emerging from his mother, then standing on a lotus next to a female donor who holds a long-life vase. According to the author, the figure kneeling below the baby is Indra and the one kneeling above the female attendant and holding a ritual water pot is Brahma, depicted with one head only. We have seen these two gods near the Buddha on several frieze fragments from Gandhara, the former with a princely appearance, coiffed with a turban, the latter with the appearance of an ascetic, his hair tied in a topknot (and always with a single head).

9th century, India, Bihar, The birth of the Buddha, schist, 39,4 cm, inventory nº 85.223.2 at the Brooklyn Museum in New York (USA).

Only Indra, coiffed with a cap, and a female attendant appear on this stele, which depicts the infant only once.

10th century, Northeastern India, Nalanda School, Queen Maya giving birth to Siddhartha Gautama, stone, photo by Jack Lee on wikimedia , at the Indian Museum in Kolkata (India).

On the above, the baby leaps out of his mother’s side to fall into the cloth held by Indra, who is flanked by another young Siddhartha standing on five lotuses. We will note that Brahma, on the other side, is depicted with four heads as in the standard Hindu iconography.