Ven. Punnavamsa 1

The Origin of Buddhist Statues and the Iconographical feature

Buddha’s images are the most attractive and significant Buddhist sculpture today. In

every Buddhist temple and every Buddhist home can find Buddha’s statues. Buddhist mainly

worship to Three cetiyas such Physical relics such Stupas, secondly used things by Buddha

as such bodhi tree, and thirdly commemorative relics such Buddha’s statue. Among them

nowadays Buddha’s statue is the main relic which devout Buddhist worships. People see

Buddha in human figure through the Buddha’s statue. Sculptors mainly try to create

Buddha’s statue which reflect the Buddha’s spiritual qualities. Buddhist people see Buddha’s

spiritual qualities and great man characteristic in the statue and improve their faith on

Buddha and Buddhism. Main purpose of creating Buddha’s statue is also developing faith in

human mind and show Buddha’s greatness to the people.

According to archeological surveys until 1st century AD cannot find Buddha’s statue

in India, in Sri Lanka or in Myanmar but literary resources says that contemporary to the lord

Buddha there were Buddha’s statues and drawings. In ancient India there was not tradition

that makes statues of any great persons such kings or religious leaders. According to

archeological surveys can see in 3rd

century BC Buddha’s statue emerged. From 6century BC

to 3rd

century BC in Buddhist carves which find in Bharuth, Sanchi, Amaravati uses symbols

such Dhamma cakka, Bodhi tree, Buddha’s foot prints, diamond seat where he enligh tened,

etc. to symbolize the Buddha. Many scholars accept that at first King Kanishka period in 1st

century AD created Buddha’s statue in Gandara. Then in Mathura, Amaravati, and Gupta

traditions gradual developed iconographic of Buddha’s Statue and finally originated great

Buddha’s statues.

According to Sri Lankan Chronicles Sri Lankan Buddhists have act major role on

creating Buddha’s statue. They used Stones, clay, iron, tusk, marble, and wood to create

Buddha’s statues. To identify special features of the Sri Lankan statues first must understand

gradual development of iconology of the Buddha’s image.

When consider about Myanmar, Sri Lankan and Indian iconographic on Buddha’s

statues can see significant factors. When Indian artist creates symbols to represent Buddha,

Myanmar and Sri Lankan sculptors have made Buddha’s statue to worship. Most Indian

statues are small and normal size but Myanmar and Sri Lanka find small, medium, and

gigantic statues. In Indian statues do not represent the Buddha’s spiritual qualities but in Sri

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Lankan and Myanmar statues. In Indian statue can see dextral curl and shaven head but in Sri

Lanka can see only statues which dextral curl. In Indian Statue can see mundane and

strapping figure but in Sri Lanka statues represent concentrated and compassionate qualities

from the Buddha’s statue.

Gestures (Mudra) of the Images

Sri Lankan sculptors used few gestures (Mudra) in Buddha’s statues. There are,

01. Gesture of Meditatuon - Dyani mudra/Samadhi Mudra

02. Gesture of fearlessness - Abhaya Mudra

03. Gesture of setting in motion the wheel of law - Dharmacakra Mudra

04. Gesture of Argumentation - Vitarka Mudra

05. Gesture of granting of wishes - Varada Mudra

06. Gesture of touching the earth - Bhumisparsa Mudra

Beside those Gestures there are few other gestures have used in statues such as

Gesture of Great compassion, gesture of the wining the three world, gesture expounding,

gesture of wishes, gesture of kataka hasta, gesture of accepting, gesture of janu hasta.

01. Gesture of Meditatuon - Dyani mudra/Samadhi Mudra

Gesture of meditation is an age-old gesture. In this statues body, head and throat keep

straightly. Sight directed to edge of the nose, and can see equilibrium in sitting posture. It is

crossed legs and with upward sole. Samadhi mean concentration of the mind. It is origin in

human mind based on morality, and wisdom? According Mahayana tradition Dyana is fifth

perfection of the bodhisattva. So they mention renunciation and emancipation symbolize

from this gesture. Sri Lankan Artist tend to create Statues with this gesture mostly, because

chronicle says when Buddha arrived in Sri Lanka he spend in various places in Sri Lanka

with joy of the concentrated mind. Anuradhapura Samadhi statue, Toluvila statue, Galvihara

statue can take as example.

02. Gesture of fearlessness - Abhaya Mudra

According to this gesture, the right hand stretched upward with palm turning to the

trunk the fingers are slightly bending. In some statues the palm turns toward the left the

fingers point upward. This gesture symbolizes the fearlessness, courage, and the dhamma

preaching. These gesture mostly Sri Lankan sculptors include in standing Buddha’s statue.

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Resvehera statue, Buduruvagala statue, Mahailuppallama statue, Veheragala statue, Avukana

statue, and Maligavila staue etc can take as examples.

03. Gesture of setting in motion the wheel of law - Dharmacakra Mudra

In this gesture the right hand turn in to out side lift until chest and the for finger and

thumb hold as circle. The left hand turns in to inside and a finger touch the circle. This

gesture has made by collection of Gna mudra (gesture of Wisdom) and Vyakyana mudra

(Gesture of expounding). Gesture of left hand symbolize the wisdom, right hand symbolize

the explaining that dhamma to disciples.

Dhammacakra mudra symbolize the discourses of dhammacakkapavattana sutta. This

gesture represents the statues which exist in mantissa-Phahiyan museum in Abhayagirirya.

04. Gesture of Argumentation - Vitarka Mudra

This gesture named by names such gesture of expounding, Mandana Mudra, Sandarsana

Mudra, and Chin Mudra. In this gesture the right hand turn in to out side lift until chest and

the for finger and thumb hold as circle. This gesture symbolizes the Buddha’s Dhamma

preaching, and debating occasions. It symbolize occasions that Buddha direct his mind in to

deep dhamma concepts. Some scholars says it symbolize the giving answers to disciples.

The circle of the hand symbolizes the Dhamma wheel. In Kandy period this gesture very

popular among Sri Lankan sculptors. Standing Buddha statue of Ridi vihara, standing Staue

of Mulkirigala, stnding statue of dambullacan take as examples.

05. Gesture of granting of wishes - Varada Mudra

In this gesture the right hand let down, direct in to forward and turn up hand upward

and left the finger points upwards. This gesture is not popular in Sri Lanka. There is only one

statue in metallic standing Buddha’s statue of Gadaladeniya. It is symbolize the franchising

of the Buddha to his disciples. In Mahayana countries this gesture very popular because

Bodhisattvas take permission from Buddha to be a Buddha. Some scholars says it symbolize

the charity.

06. Gesture of touching the earth - Bhumisparsa Mudra

In this gesture the right hand turned to downward and touches the earth from finger

points. Left hand is in meditation posture. It symbolize the great earth is the witness for

Buddha’s attainment of Buddha hood. It symbolizes the victory of Mara.

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According to literature Buddha’s statue was made contemporary to the lord Buddha.

According to archeological surveys first Buddha’s statue find in 1st century AD in king

Kanishaka’s period in India. Then Buddha’s statues created according to Gandhara tradition,

Mathura tradition, Gupta tradition and Amaravati tradition in India. First Buddha’s statue

belongs to gandara tradition. Contemporary to the Gandhara tradition Mathura tradition also

has created Buddha’s statue. In Amaravati tradition it improved and in Gupta tradition

iconographic of Buddha’s statue reached its golden age.

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