Download Gandhara art , sculpture development, evolution of Mahayana

Gandhara art , sculpture development, evolution of Mahayana School of Buddhism
The land of Pakistan is blessed with the vast treasure troves of the world and one
of the most important treasures is the glorious civilization of Buddhism flourishing in
the North Western areas of Pakistan. The mountains of these are witness to one of the
highly creative ideology springing from Buddha, taking refuge in the mountains from
Karakurums in Chilas to Pir Panjal Mountains near Taxila.
Buddha with his disciples Fig.1
The Buddhism flourished in these regions after the Ashoka embraced Buddhism
after the war of Kalinga. There was one school called Nahayana, the smaller ferry
which believed that the great Buddha will take all the followers to Nirvana. But as it
has been happening to many religions of antiquity, the followers of Buddha
in Pushklavati and Takshala valley developed the sculpture to adjust with the
demands of basic philosophy of Mahayana.
F ig.2
T hese valleys saw the growth of Buddhism fr o m traditional view of Nirvana to
more liberal expression of personal element of involvement in a spiritual way.
These valleys saw the emergence of Mahayana school of Buddhism which is the
larger ferry and it said that there was possibility for many persons to get Nirvana and
reach up to Buddhahood , this idea introduced the development of sculpture and
taking guidance from the Maha Buddha
Nirvana Fig.3
.
This gradually resulted in development of Gandhara Sculpture based upon the
Pali literature of Buddhism based upon Tri Jatakas and Tri Patakas ( three baskets,
and three bags respectively). This literature is the story of Mahavera Buddha in
different phases of life and in this the natural gift of depicting the figures and
paintings of the situation developed and this opened the gate for idols and sculptures
of a marvelous beauty, proportion and originality in its execution and imagination.
The bronze sculpture of Gandhara is the most original and creative phenomenon
which was rage in the first centuries of first millennium. This is the unique aspect of
the Buddhist religious pantheon in Northern Pakistan as in Southern India the oldest
Buddhist temples of 5 th century AD have no sculpture rather they have the lotus
flower and its depiction as the Nirvana aspect of Mahavera.
The sculpture of Gandhara has variety of the ideas based upon Jatakas and
Patakas and it describes the whole story of Gautma’s life from his palace to the place
of his Nirvana under a peepal tree. The tree of peepal and lotus have sacred valuation
in the Buddhist tradition as they are considered to be linked with the life of Gautma
in inseparable manner at the most crucial stages of his spiritual evolution and
transformation. This aspect can be studied in detail in the sculpture tablets and other
artifacts of Gandhara in Peshawer Museum, Taxila Museum, Lahore Museum, and
other places where the Gandhara art is preserved.
Fig.4
The Gandhara art is basically the expression of Mahayana school of thought
which later on traveled from Swat, Kashmir through the famous Silk Road to Xin
Jiang in China.
The sculpture which traveled from Pakistan to China has drastically changed
especially in its material and shape. The most amazing difference is between physique,
in China the Buddha has healthy, Chinese and localized features and with more stress
on the face and expression whereas in Gandhara art the whole bodily expression and
fasting of Buddha is explained in more detail and personalized spiritual expression.
This is at its peak in the Fasting Buddha , in the custody of Lahore Museum. S
ee below the fasting Buddha which is the representative art of Gandhara . This shows
the control of artistic expression and observation of human physical situation in the
ultimate state of Nirvana . This is blend and mosaic of physical endurance and bliss of
Nirvana in a multidimensional , passionate way. T his sculpture captures the strength,
depth, variety, uniqueness and individuality of spiritual elation and awakening in
pinnacle of Buddhist journey of spirit.
The Fasting Buddha Fig.5
The varieties of Buddha along with Stupas are expressions of richness of
Buddhist legacy in Pakistan. The art of Gandhara is innovative, local and as asserted
by many western scholar that the technique is inspired by Greek is not borne by facts,
as to its originality of idea and usage of bronze as basic material in production of
sculpture.
The imagination, development and evolution of Gandhara art is interwoven with
the advent of Mahayana school in Buddhism which flourished in early centuries in
the Pushklavati and Takshala valleys in early millennium.
The journey of Jatakas and Patakas from Pakistan to China is a cultural
assimilation between the areas of Pakistan and China . This was the most important
cultural, historical and deep religious exchange in the history of this area.
T he translation of Buddhist literature has saved the treasures of Buddhist
tradition to posterity , which later on traveled to Japan , Korea, Thailand and other
regions of Far East .
T he Silk Road has its trade value but the journey of Jatakas and Patakas to China
is the most enduring legacy of the glorious mountains.
The icon of this cultural transmission is Xuan Zang, the Buddhist monk who
traveled in the last stages of Gandhara Civilization, which had been destroyed by
zealot Hindu resurgence
But the literature of Buddhism was translated by him in the Tang dynasty and in
Tang dynasty of China the Buddhism was adopted by elites of China. It was a tang
Princess who took the Buddhist religion to Tibet. In Tibet the Buddhism Mahayana
developed its own attributes and Lamas were the practitioners of this Tibetized and
Sinicized Buddhism.
Head of Buddha Fig.6
The Mahayana is linked with Gandhara and its evolution is depicted in art,
Patakas and Jatakas with help of figurative art in creative way and manner. This
association is the basic idea which helps us to appreciate and understand the growth
and flourishing of sculpture and related artifacts in Gandhara.
The dominant theme was by the different poses, postures of Buddha. T his is
unique in the individualistic respect of Buddha as there is no other person depicted
except in subdued manner. ( S ee figure 4,1)
The the me of meditation is developed in a very relaxed, calm, individualistic way
in Gandhara art as sho wn in figure 7 . These sculptures show the spiritual elation and
calmness in a refined and passionate manner with deep peace on the face of Buddha. T
hese sculpture show the personal devotional attitude of artisans of Gandhara .
The Buddha in Meditation Fig.7
The Birds and Nirvana
F ig. 8
Buddha’s hand Fig.9