Borobudur

The biggest Buddhist temple in the world, Borobudur, is a Buddhist temple from the 9th century located in Central Java, Indonesia. One of the biggest Buddhist monuments in the entire globe is this one. Three circular and six square platforms make up the temple's nine stacked levels, which have Buddha images seated in perforated stupas surrounding the highest dome in the center.
The temple was constructed under the rule of the Sailendra Dynasty and was created by Javanese Buddhist architecture, fusing the Buddhist notion of achieving Nirvana with Indonesian cults of ancestral worship (Snjezana, 2012). The monument also portrays the impacts of the Gupta art a reflection of the influence India had to this region. The temple however possess sufficient indigenous scenes that make the Borobudur uniquely Indonesian.

Buddha seated on lion throne is a statue from the second century form Mathura India. The Mathura art flourished in the pilgrimage center as from the second century BC. Most of its distinctive features took place in the Kushan and Gupta periods. The red sandstone is from Sikri quarries and is widely distributed across Northern part of central India.

In the representative seated Buddha, the shoulders appear to be broad, the chest swells on top of lion thrones is portrayed as symbol of strength (Snjezana, 2012). The statue portrays lions reminiscent to the Pillars of Ashoka though in much cruder design. The image of the Buddha is also fleshy and happy with little display of spirituality.

Seated Buddha preaching first sermon is a very popular piece of work that portrays a lot of spirituality. This was after he experienced some enlightenment a few weeks prior. He is portrayed to be seated in yogic position with his robe over both shoulders with his hand raised gesturing the spinning wheel of the Buddhist law.

The art is dated to the time of Gupta period. The image portrays compassion, inner bliss, and spirituality (Penner, 2009). This is a special art in Buddhism that is meant to be remembered. The sculpture was meant for prayer or for an act of history and remembrance.

The sculpture of the meditating Buddha reveals the image of Buddha which evolved over time in Gandhara, a region that included parts of Afghanistan, North West India and Pakistan. It portrays Roman sources as well as Hellenistic influence after Alexandra the great conquered the region. This is evident in the Buddha’s robe rendered like a Roman toga on both shoulders. The yoga pause with folded hands on the lap is one of the most popular influences of the Indian region to the world’s art (Penner, 2009).

The statue was made during the second century, despite the fact that the Buddha lived four centuries before Christ, this still remains one of the earliest statues. After his renouncement of a comfortable life, the Buddha was enlightened and preached a life with no attachments.

The death of the Buddha is found in Gal Vihara, a temple in Sri Lanka with three Buddhist statues. The image is hallowed out from the massive slab and brings to life the facial expressions and flow of robes. His face is made to look peaceful and gentle.

Polonnaruwa was by king Parakamabahu at the time of the Polonnaruwa kingdom. Polonnaruwa Gal Vihara is one of the attraction sites. Death of the Buddha was made from one huge granite rock. This granite sculpture portrays Buddha in a parinirvana pause which is not death but a transition to Nibbana (Penner, 2009). The pillow is depressed at the middle part expressing the weight of the head of the Buddha. One leg of the Buddha is also withdrawn from the other to differentiate between the Parinirwana state form the sleeping state.







References

Penner, H. (2009). Rediscovering the Buddha: Legends of the Buddha and Their Interpretation. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Snjezana, Z. (2012). The Stupa of Borobudur-A Place of Inner Pilgrimage. Spatial Practices, vol. 1, (14), 6-13.