Aacharya Premsagar Chaturvedi Abhinandan Granth

SR No.: 022848
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Ajaykumar Pandey
Publisher: Pratibha Prakashan
Publication Year: 2010
Total Pages: 502
Language: Hindi
Classification: Smruti_Granth
File Size: 36 MB

Page 483

Contribution of Buddhism to Indian Culture
451
Starting from the time of king Asoka upto the middle of Ist century B.C. Buddha was represented by a few symbols. We do not come across any image of Buddha. The followers of Buddha did not believe in the worship of image.
They paid their veneration to the symbols. We thus see that a garden with trees in the midst and his mother represents his birth, a house his renunciation, the Bodhi tree his enlightenment, his first discourse to his Panchavaggiya bhikkus by a wheel flanked by a deer, and the like. These kinds of symbols are found at Sarnatha, Nalanda, Amravati etc. In the base relief of Bharhut, Sanchi we find this kind of representation.
Several stupas, chaityas were also erected by the followers to express their deep veneration to Buddha. Thus the inspiration of the Buddhist art came from religion. Indeed, it also served as a valuable means for the propagation of Buddhism.
During the period of king Asoka Buddhism became popular religion in India. He did all that was possible for the propagation of Buddhism and art which reflects the ideas and ideals, ambitions, joys and tears and Buddhist laity, Asoka built large pillars at important places throughout India. His famous Lion Capital Pillar is indeed one of the noblest products of Buddhist art." It has been accepted as the national emblem of free India.
The first representation of Buddha in anthropomorphic form in sculptures dates from the 1st century A.D. The Buddha image was produced by the Mathura and Gandhara schools of sculptures at about the same period.12 King Kanishka patronised the artists to curve statues of Bodhisattvas and Buddhas to popularise Buddhism. As a consequence, statues of Budhisattvas and Buddhas in various forms (mudras) were produced and they were in great demand. Many stupas, chaityas, viharas were also constructed during this period.