Ven.

Punnavamsa 1

The Origin of Buddhist Statues and the Iconographical feature

Buddhas images are the most attractive and significant Buddhist sculpture today. In
every Buddhist temple and every Buddhist home can find Buddhas statues. Buddhist mainly
worship to Three cetiyas such Physical relics such Stupas, secondly used things by Buddha
as such bodhi tree, and thirdly commemorative relics such Buddhas statue. Among them
nowadays Buddhas statue is the main relic which devout Buddhist worships. People see
Buddha in human figure through the Buddhas statue. Sculptors mainly try to create
Buddhas statue which reflect the Buddhas spiritual qualities. Buddhist people see Buddhas
spiritual qualities and great man characteristic in the statue and improve their faith on
Buddha and Buddhism. Main purpose of creating Buddhas statue is also developing faith in
human mind and show Buddhas greatness to the people.
According to archeological surveys until 1 st century AD cannot find Buddhas statue
in India, in Sri Lanka or in Myanmar but literary resources says that contemporary to the lord
Buddha there were Buddhas statues and drawings. In ancient India there was not tradition
that makes statues of any great persons such kings or religious leaders. According to
archeological surveys can see in 3 rd century BC Buddhas statue emerged. From 6century BC
to 3rd century BC in Buddhist carves which find in Bharuth, Sanchi, Amaravati uses symbols
such Dhamma cakka, Bodhi tree, Buddhas foot prints, diamond seat where he enligh tened,
etc. to symbolize the Buddha. Many scholars accept that at first King Kanishka period in 1 st
century AD created Buddhas statue in Gandara. Then in Mathura, Amaravati, and Gupta
traditions gradual developed iconographic of Buddhas Statue and finally originated great
Buddhas statues.
According to Sri Lankan Chronicles Sri Lankan Buddhists have act major role on
creating Buddhas statue. They used Stones, clay, iron, tusk, marble, and wood to create
Buddhas statues. To identify special features of the Sri Lankan statues first must understand
gradual development of iconology of the Buddhas image.
When consider about Myanmar, Sri Lankan and Indian iconographic on Buddhas
statues can see significant factors. When Indian artist creates symbols to represent Buddha,
Myanmar and Sri Lankan sculptors have made Buddhas statue to worship. Most Indian
statues are small and normal size but Myanmar and Sri Lanka find small, medium, and
gigantic statues. In Indian statues do not represent the Buddhas spiritual qualities but in Sri

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Lankan and Myanmar statues. In Indian statue can see dextral curl and shaven head but in Sri
Lanka can see only statues which dextral curl. In Indian Statue can see mundane and
strapping figure but in Sri Lanka statues represent concentrated and compassionate qualities
from the Buddhas statue.

Gestures (Mudra) of the Images

Sri Lankan sculptors used few gestures (Mudra) in Buddhas statues. There are,
01. Gesture of Meditatuon

- Dyani mudra/Samadhi Mudra

02. Gesture of fearlessness - Abhaya Mudra

03. Gesture of setting in motion the wheel of law - Dharmacakra Mudra
04. Gesture of Argumentation

- Vitarka Mudra

05. Gesture of granting of wishes

- Varada Mudra

06. Gesture of touching the earth

- Bhumisparsa Mudra

Beside those Gestures there are few other gestures have used in statues such as
Gesture of Great compassion, gesture of the wining the three world, gesture expounding,
gesture of wishes, gesture of kataka hasta, gesture of accepting, gesture of janu hasta.

01. Gesture of Meditatuon - Dyani mudra/Samadhi Mudra

Gesture of meditation is an age-old gesture. In this statues body, head and throat keep
straightly. Sight directed to edge of the nose, and can see equilibrium in sitting posture. It is
crossed legs and with upward sole. Samadhi mean concentration of the mind. It is origin in
human mind based on morality, and wisdom? According Mahayana tradition Dyana is fifth
perfection of the bodhisattva. So they mention renunciation and emancipation symboliz e
from this gesture. Sri Lankan Artist tend to create Statues with this gesture mostly, because
chronicle says when Buddha arrived in Sri Lanka he spend in various places in Sri Lanka
with joy of the concentrated mind. Anuradhapura Samadhi statue, Toluvila statue, Galvihara
statue can take as example.

02. Gesture of fearlessness

- Abhaya Mudra

According to this gesture, the right hand stretched upward with palm turning to the
trunk the fingers are slightly bending. In some statues the palm turns toward the left the
fingers point upward. This gesture symbolizes the fearlessness, courage, and the dhamma
preaching. These gesture mostly Sri Lankan sculptors include in standing Buddhas statue.

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Resvehera statue, Buduruvagala statue, Mahailuppallama statue, Veheragala statue, Avukana

statue, and Maligavila staue etc can take as examples.

03. Gesture of setting in motion the wheel of law

- Dharmacakra Mudra

In this gesture the right hand turn in to out side lift until chest and the for finger and
thumb hold as circle. The left hand turns in to inside and a finger touch the circle. This
gesture has made by collection of Gna mudra (gesture of Wisdom) and Vyakyana mudra
(Gesture of expounding). Gesture of left hand symbolize the wisdom, right hand symbolize
the explaining that dhamma to disciples.
Dhammacakra mudra symbolize the discourses of dhammacakkapavattana sutta. This
gesture represents the statues which exist in mantissa-Phahiyan museum in Abhayagirirya.

04. Gesture of Argumentation

- Vitarka Mudra

This gesture named by names such gesture of expounding, Mandana Mudra, Sandarsana
Mudra, and Chin Mudra. In this gesture the right hand turn in to out side lift until chest and
the for finger and thumb hold as circle. This gesture symbolizes the Buddhas Dhamma
preaching, and debating occasions. It symbolize occasions that Buddha direct his mind in to
deep dhamma concepts. Some scholars says it symbolize the giving answers to disciples.
The circle of the hand symbolizes the Dhamma wheel. In Kandy period this gesture very
popular among Sri Lankan sculptors. Standing Buddha statue of Ridi vihara, standing Staue
of Mulkirigala, stnding statue of dambullacan take as examples.

05. Gesture of granting of wishes - Varada Mudra

In this gesture the right hand let down, direct in to forward and turn up hand upward
and left the finger points upwards. This gesture is not popular in Sri Lanka. There is only one
statue in metallic standing Buddhas statue of Gadaladeniya. It is symbolize the franchising
of the Buddha to his disciples. In Mahayana countries this gesture very popular because
Bodhisattvas take permission from Buddha to be a Buddha. Some scholars says it symbolize
the charity.

06. Gesture of touching the earth - Bhumisparsa Mudra

In this gesture the right hand turned to downward and touches the earth from finger
points. Left hand is in meditation posture. It symbolize the great earth is the witness for
Buddhas attainment of Buddha hood. It symbolizes the victory of Mara.

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According to literature Buddhas statue was made contemporary to the lord Buddha.
According to archeological surveys first Buddhas statue find in 1 st century AD in king
Kanishakas period in India. Then Buddhas statues created according to Gandhara tradition,
Mathura tradition, Gupta tradition and Amaravati tradition in India. First Buddhas statue
belongs to gandara tradition. Contemporary to the Gandhara tradition Mathura tradition also
has created Buddhas statue. In Amaravati tradition it improved and in Gupta tradition
iconographic of Buddhas statue reached its golden age.

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