Explain origin and evolution Indian Buddhas image and point out

special characteristic of Gandhara Buddha image.

Buddha appeared in India in the 6
th
century B.C., but his image was not made
according to archaeological evidence, until the 1
st
century B.C or A.D. Various scholars
have argued going various reasons for not making the Buddha image. In literary sources
it is given that the Buddha image was made even during his lifetime. According to
Kosala-bimba-vannana, a ali book written in the 1
th
or 1!
th
Century A.D. says that
the Buddha image was made during his lifetime.
Actually, the appearance of the Buddha image has several historical factors, i.e.
!. Due to the flourishing of the "ahayana Buddhism. #he concept of
"ri#a$a became popular. #he "ahayana propagated Bha#ti cult, i.e.
devotion to the Buddha as a way of salvation. #he $reek people who
were image worshippers became Buddhists and they started to create the
%irmana-#a$a of the Buddha.
%. According to &. Krishan, the Epigraphical evidence shows that the
Kushans e&tended their royal patronage to the cause of Buddhism. #hey
encouraged and donated the creating of Buddha images.
According to that the anthropomorphic form of Buddha image appeared in India
either in the 1
st
century B.C. or A.D. 'e have found out archaeological evidences from
Gandhara and 'athura. #he evolution of the Buddha images had undergone ! stages(
1
st
stage - Buddhas image of Gandhara
By the 1
st
century B.C., the $reek came to India, then con(uered the )orth 'est
part of India and ruled for sometimes. #he $reek*s culture began to influence the India
culture. #he culture of $reek was based on the worshipping of image cult. Buddha image
in human form was appeared contemporar$ in Gandhara and 'athura. #he $reek
who ruled India embraced Buddhism and they wanted to know who their master was,
then they changed the concept of not creating the Buddha in human form.
#he $reek artist took the model of the +$reece $od )pollo* and they created the
Buddha figure in the shape of that $od. Gandhara figures of the Buddha wear +toga*
like robes reaching down below the #nees. #he folds of the robes are well defined and
the limbs thic# and even plump. #he head is reminiscent of the $reek rendering of
the head of +)pollo. ,eatures are full, the e$es half open indicating divine peace. #he
nose is almost -oman, its lines continuing upwards to form st$li*ed bro+s. #he +third
eye* is on the forehead, the ears are pendulous and the robes strongly carved and well
proportioned. #he hair is long and wavy, and the cranial protuberance, usnisa,
disguised by and adaptation of the top#not, similar to the krobylos of the +$reek sun
god*. #he proportion of the figure is that of , heads as are the figures of late -oman
sculpture. #he sculpture of Gandhara is almost entirely Buddhist.
-
nd
stage - Buddhas image in 'athura
#he Buddha image appeared in 'athura at the same time of the Gandhara
Buddha image. But there is a very big difference between the two. #he 'athura Buddha
image took the &a#sha as the model, which is very muscular and earth$, the main
different in creating the Buddha image at 'athura in stages.
! produced symbol to represent the Buddha,
% produced the Bodhisatta image,
. the Buddha image was made.

rd
stage . )maravati Buddha image /-
nd
).0.1
It is the combination of Gandhara and 'athura Buddha images, because its
physical appearance was like an Indian, but the robe was like the +toga* of the $andhara
Buddha image.
!
th
stage . Gupta Buddha image /-2 ).0.1
During the Gupta period, the Buddha image was created with the real /uality of the
Buddha, both ph$sicall$ and spirituall$. It was evolved on the basis of "athura Buddha
image, but $andhara*s influence was also seen in that.