BODHISATTVA
Description
THE Mahayana concept of the Bodhisattva was transformed into a visual form in the art of Gandhara, which has left a legacy of many beautiful large sculptures. Draped in princely attire and decked with rich ornaments, the haloed Bodhisattva is standing erect emitting a royal presence. He wears a girdled dhoti and his ample upavastra, neatly passes round his left shoulder twice, to hold it in place. The round bead pendant of his necklace is held by moulded deer-face motifs on either side almost in the shape of a rhyton which is fixed to a necklace of several rows of strings of tiny beads. It is interesting that though decoration of animal heads is often seen in Gandhara art, generally it is that of a lion or a crocodile. The Bodhisattva also wears a hasli and two other decorative strings, one passing round his left shoulder, and the other arranged like a yajnopavita which has several sacred drum shaped pendants. The Gandhara style is also evident in facial features, including the moustache, the urna and half-closed eyes in meditation, elaborate head-dress, and curly locks of hair falling on his shoulder
Collection
Buddhist Art
Object Type
Sculpture
Material
Grey Schist
Schools/Culture/Period
Gandharan
Technique
--
Date
3rd century CE
Location
Afghanistan or Pakistan
Dimension
92 x 50 x 18 cms.