Bala Bodhisattva
The Bala Bodhisattva dedicated in "the year 3 of Kanishka" (circa 123 AD) by "brother (Bhikshu) Bala". The right arm would have been raised in a salutation gesture. Sarnath Museum.
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| Material | Red sandstone |
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| Size | about 205 cm |
| Period/culture | 123 AD |
| Place | Sarnath, India |
| Present location | Sarnath Museum, India |
Right image: Side view.
The Bala Bodhisattva is an ancient Indian statue of a Bodhisattva, found in 1904-1905 by German archaeologist F.O. Oertel (1862-1942) in Sarnath, India. The statue has been decisive in matching the reign of Kanishka with contemporary sculptural style, especially the type of similar sculptures from Mathura, as its bears a dated inscription.[1]
Contents
Inscription
The inscription on the Bodhisattva explains that it was dedicated by a "Brother" (Bhikshu) named Bala, in the "Year 3 of Kanishka". This allows to be a rather precise date on the sculptural style represented by the statue, as year 3 is thought to be approximately 123 AD.
The inscription further states that Kanishka (who ruled from his capital in Mathura) had several satraps under his commands in order to rule his vast territory: the names of the Indo-Scythian Northern Satraps Mahakshatrapa ("Great Satrap") Kharapallana and the Kshatrapa ("Satrap") Vanaspara are mentioned as satraps for the eastern territories of Kanishka's empire. At the same time a "General Lala" and Satraps Vespasi and Liaka are mentionned as in charge of the north.[2][3][4]
Style
The style of this statue is somewhat reminiscent of the earlier monumental Yaksha statues, usually dated to a few centuries earlier. On the contrary, despite other known instances of Hellenistic influence on Indian art, very little, if anything at all can be seen in this type of statue. Especially the Greco-Buddhist art of Gandhara seems to have had little to no influence.[5]
The discovery was published in the "Archaeological Survey of India Annual Report for the Year 1904–1905", in an article by F.O. Oertel pp. 59–104.
The statue is now in the Sarnath Museum .[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Papers on the Date of Kaniṣka, Arthur Llewellyn Basham, Brill Archive, 1969, p.271 [1]
- ↑ Ancient Indian History and Civilization, Sailendra Nath Sen, New Age International, 1999, p.198 [2]
- ↑ Foreign Influence on Ancient India, Krishna Chandra Sagar, Northern Book Centre, 1992 p.167 [3]
- ↑ Source: "A Catalogue of the Indian Coins in the British Museum. Andhras etc..." Rapson, p ciii
- ↑ Origin of the Buddha Image, June Coomaraswamy, p.300-301 [4]
