Stele with Three Buddhas

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The central figure in this sculpture deftly coaxed out of hard, unyielding granite is the youthful and slender figure of a standing Buddha. The tight fitting robes conform to the contours of his body and cover him fully. He stands on a pedestal of lotuses, flanked on either side by the face of a lion. Seated atop the ferocious creatures are two more Buddhas, both engaged in the dhyana mudra. The central Buddha is distinguished from the others not only by his large size but also by the assertive and rigidly symmetrical striations representing the folds of the garment, and the large decorated halo framing his head.

The lions occupying the corners at the bottom of the composition have a deep symbolic significance. They refer to the fact that the 'Blessed One' belongs to the 'lion clan,' known as the Shakyas. Hence the title Shakyamuni, meaning the silent lion (muni - silent). His right hand firmly makes the gesture of reassurance (abhaya mudra), which of course is expected from one belonging to such a distinguished and fearless lineage. The upraised left hand is supported by a lotus and gathers the hem of his garment.

The Buddha's face is dominated by a sharp nose, and a slight smile escapes from his pursed lips. His hair is typically made of snail shell curls and three of his supernatural signs of greatness - the urna between the eyebrows, the long earlobes extending upto the shoulders, and the ushnisha - all are clearly delineated.

Of Related Interest:

The Way Of The Buddha

The Life of the Buddha

Absence of the Buddha Image in Early Buddhist Art

Mudras of the Great Buddha

Evolution of the Buddha Image

The Origin of the Buddha Image

More Granite Sculptures

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