Buddha Shakyamuni
The Enlightenment
Artefact Description
The story in this relief starts from the right, where Buddha Shakyamuni is seen seated on a throne flanked by two figures, under the Bodhi Tree; displaying the Bhumisparsha (Calling-earth-to-bear-witness) mudra, after subduing Mara's attack, while His left hand is holding the hem of His robes.6 fig 40
The figure on His left wears a turban, dressed in dhoti up to his waist. He seemed to be unsheathing his sword, while looking at the Buddha intently. The slouching figure at the Buddha Shakyamuni's right had his body turned away from the Buddha, looking at the Buddha with a defeated look. This relief shows Subduing Mara's Attack, where Buddha became victorious, when He overcame the accumulated temptations of Demon Mara.
At the centre, Buddha is seen seated on the ground in Dhyana (meditative) mudra and backed by a nimbus looking at the Bodhi tree, with a figure in reverence standing behind Him.
At the far right of the relief, shows a wheel on the pedestal where Buddha sits, which signifies the Turning of the Dharma Wheel, as Buddha expounds His Teachings to the five ascetics surrounding Him.
Throughout the scenes, the depiction of the Buddha is consistent - His hair is raised into Ushnisha, His body fully covered in drapery of monastic robes, His face presents a serene look in deep contemplation.
Historical Background
After subduing Mara, Siddhartha gazed at the star-lit night sky of Bodh Gaya. With his thoughts, single-minded determination, purified and cleansed, free from all impurities, Siddhartha developed the knowledge called 'Pubbenivasanussati nana' (Reminiscence of Past Lives) in the first watch of the night.2 p40, 9 c2, 10 c 3
In the second watch of the night, he developed the knowledge called the 'Cutupapata nana' (Perception of Disappearance and Reappearance of Beings).
In the last watch of the night, he developed the knowledge of 'Asavakkhaya nana' (Cessation of all Cankers).
He realized the 3 basic components of the Dharma: The Four Noble Truths, The Noble Eight-fold Path and The Middle Way.3 p14
The Four Noble Truths: Suffering, the Cause of Suffering, the Release from Suffering, and the Way to the Release from Suffering.
"Through many a birth in Samsara wandered I,
Seeking, but not finding, the builder of this house.
Sorrowful is repeated birth.
O house builder! You art seen.
You shall build no house again.
All your rafters are broken, your ridgepole is shattered.
The mind attains the unconditioned.
Achieved is the end of craving."
He was liberated from the cycle of endless rebirths in this Samsara world. Without any guidance or inspiration from any kind of supernatural agency.
Siddhartha achieved 'Anuttara Samyak Sambodhi' (Supreme Perfect Enlightenment) and became 'The Enlightened one, The Historical Buddha', by his own effort at the age of 35.
Bodh Gaya is thus known as the Buddha Shakyamuni's Place of Enlightenment.8
Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum Similar Artefacts
Artefact Description
This Burmese Buddha Shakyamuni is depicted with a deep serene expression, sitting on an elaborate throne, decorated with six tiers of floral and lotus motifs. He has enlarged downcast eyes, broad-arching connected eyebrows and long ear-lobes reaching His shoulders. Emanating from the crown of His head is a two-tiered cone finial, the upper is stream-lined with a spherical end.
His right hand is in Bhumisparsha (Calling-earth-to-bear-witness) mudra, while the left hand remains quietly in His lap, palms up. This mudra marks the significance of Buddha calling the earth to be His witness, when He had reached Enlightenment.
His legs are in Padmasasna (lotus) posture, where the legs are tucked in tightly together, crossed at the ankles with right atop left, with the bottoms of both feet facing upward and resting on opposite thighs.
This Burmese Buddha Shakyamuni sculpture illustrates some of the prevalent features from the Mahapurusalaksanas (thirty-two features of a Great Man) : long fingers and Ushnisha (protruding crown shaped like a stupa on His head). The sculpture also illustrates elongated ears, which belongs to Anubyanjana (eighty secondary features of a Great Man).
Artefact Description
This is a bronze Burmese sculpture of the Buddha Shakyamuni in a seated position, on a three-tier throne. He is seen with Bhumisparsha (Calling-earth-to-bear-witness) mudra : His right hand over the knee, fingers together and reaching to touch the ground, while the left hand remains quietly in His lap, palms up. This mudra marks the significance of Buddha calling the earth to be His witness, when He had reached Enlightenment.
This Burmese Buddha Shakyamuni sculpture illustrates some of the prevalent features from the Mahapurusalaksanas (thirty-two features of a Great Man) - the Urna (forehead mark in the form of a white tuft of hair between the eyebrows) and Ushnisha (protruding crown shaped like a stupa on His head). The sculpture also illustrates elongated ears, which belongs to Anubyanjana (eighty secondary features of a Great Man).
Ven. Chao Khun Fa ZhaoBBM's Pilgrimage to Bodhgaya, India
In 2007, the chief Abbott of Buddha Tooth Relic Temple (Singapore) Ven. Chao Khun Fa ZhaoBBM went on a pilgrimage to Bodh Gaya, India.
In approximately 250 BCE, about 200 years after the Buddha attained Enlightenment, Buddhist Emperor Asoka visited Bodh Gaya, in order to establish a monastery and shrine on the holy site.
The history of Bodh Gaya is documented by many inscriptions and pilgrimage accounts. Foremost among these are the accounts of the Chinese pilgrims, such as Faxian in the 5th century and Xuanzang in the 7th century.
This area was at the heart of a Buddhist civilization for centuries, until it was conquered by Turkic armies, in the 13th century. The place-name, Bodh Gaya, did not come into use until the 18th century CE. Historically, it was known as Uruvela, Sambodhi ("Complete Enlightenment" in Ashoka's Major Rock Edict No.8), Vajrasana (the "Diamond Throne" of the Buddha), or Mahabodhi ("Great Enlightenment").
The main monastery of Bodh Gaya used to be called the Bodhimanda-vihāra (Pali). Now it is called the Mahabodhi Temple.
The humble beginnings of Buddhism emerged in the eastern part of Ancient India, in and around the ancient Kingdom of Magadha (now in Bihar, India), and flourished in India, during 3rd century BCE with King Ashoka's royal patronage on the Teachings of Buddha Shakyamuni.
Buddhism may not be the predominant religion in India today, but it has never completely left India.
In 2002, Bodh Gaya was announced as UNESCO world heritage site. We participated in the ceremony, as part of the Singapore contingent.
Since then, Bodh Gaya has become a global destination. Such a holy destination warrants the visits of Buddhist devotees and monks from worldwide to seek religious refuge and embark on pilgrimages.
Bibliography:
- Lalitavistara 'The Play in Full', Translated by the Dharmachakra Translation Committee, 2013
- Ven. Weragoda Sarada Maha Thero, Life of The Buddha In Gandhara Art, 2006, ISBN 981-05-7045-7
- Department of Tourism, Government of India, Walking with the Buddha, 2nd edition 2004, ISBN 81-87780-24-X
- Sir John Marshall, The Buddhist Art of Gandara, 3rd edition 2008, ISBN 978-81-215-0967-1
- Indian Museum, Kolkata, The Way of The Buddha, reprint 2005
- Ratan Parimoo, Life of the Buddha in Indian Sculpture, 1936, ISBN 13:9788124605523
- Charles F. Chicarelli, Buddhist Art: An Illustrated Introduction, 2004, ISBN 974-9575-54-7
- Awakenings in Bodhgaya, Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee, 2010
- Ven. Narada Maha Thero, Vision of The Buddha, The Buddha and His Teachings, 2006, ISBN-10: 8179926176
- Saddhaloka, Encounters With Enlightenment, Stories from the Life of the Buddha, Windhorse Publications, 2001, ISBN 978 1 899579 37 2