{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O25016"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O25016/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AU5627/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AU5627/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AU5627","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JV7129","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O25016/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O25016","accessionNumber":"IM.112-1916","objectType":"Figure","titles":[{"title":"Buddha Shakyamuni","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"There are few large-scale images of the Buddha in eastern India and this example is among the finest to have been preserved. It shows the Buddha seated in meditation on a lotus throne (‘padmasana’) with a ‘vajra’ (thunderbolt). These features identify it specifically as a ‘diamond throne’ (‘vajrasana’). \r\n\r\nThe gesture of the lowered hand position (‘bhumisparsa-mudra’) is  significant. It confirms that Shakyamuni is calling the earth to witness his resistance of the temptations of the demonic goddess Mara and the forces of worldly attachments. The combination of the ‘diamond throne’ and the mudra confirm that this image is intended to depict the historical Buddha at Bodhgaya, immediately prior to his  Enlightenment.\r\n\r\nThis posture became a classic attitude in later Buddhist sculpture and was widely emulated elsewhere in the art of Buddhist Asia. Few monumental images of the Buddha survive from eastern India. Buddhism, weakened by the arrival of popular Hinduism and by Muslim invasions, was nearing collapse in the region at this time. Later, medieval Hinduism re-absorbed the Buddha as a divine incarnation (‘avatara’) of Vishnu, and many Buddha images of the Pala period (about 760-1142) appear to have been worshipped in this form.","physicalDescription":"Seated figure of the Buddha Shakyamuni in <i>bhumisparsa-mudra</i>. This sculpture depicts the Buddha seated in the 'lotus' meditating position on a mat edged with pearls above a single lotus throne. A large part of the right arm of the figure is missing from below the shoulder to the wrist, his left hand with palm turned upwards resting in his lap is also damaged. A part of the <i>ushnisha</i> is missing and the face has lost its nose and shows other marks of abrasion.\n\nThe Buddha has lowered eyes under the narrow incised curving lines of his eyebrows.  His hair is shown in rows of tight 'snail-shell' curls.  His clinging robe is thrown over his left shoulder in a sinuous curve, with one end terminating in a gently curving row of tight folds just above his left breast. The edge of the robe is shown as a line dipping under his right breast with the opposite edge snaking down his torso.  It is further seen in two encircling ridges above his ankles above the tightly folded fan-shaped hems of the front and back parts of the robe upon which he sits.\n\nHis right hand which is shown touching the earth, although damaged, still bears remnants of webbing between the fingers.  The soles of his feet are marked with two small symbols of the<i> dharma-chakra</i>.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"black basalt","id":"x30176"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"}],"materialsAndTechniques":" Carved black basalt","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Buddhism","id":"THES48984"}],"styles":[{"text":"Pala period","id":"x32276"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2006AU5627","2017JV7129"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"47C","id":"THES49795"},"free":"","case":"BNC1","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Figure","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Patna","id":"x32048"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"Early 12th century","earliest":"1100-01-01","latest":"1150-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"MA/1/A772","id":"ARC147077"},"association":"Archive record"}],"creditLine":"Given by the Architectural Association, Royal Architectural Museum, 37 Great Smith Street, Westminster, S.W","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"119.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"12/06/2023","earliest":"2023-06-12","latest":"2023-06-12"},"part":"","note":"Dimensions checked and amended 12/06/2023"},{"dimension":"Width","value":"98.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"12/06/2023","earliest":"2023-06-12","latest":"2023-06-12"},"part":"","note":"Dimensions checked and amended 12/06/2023"},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"58.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"12/06/2023","earliest":"2023-06-12","latest":"2023-06-12"},"part":"","note":"Dimensions checked and amended 12/06/2023"}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Given by the Architectural Association, to which this and 51 related architectural pieces from ruined temples devastated by Muslim raiders in the 14th and 15th centuries on the twin summits of Mount Shatrunjaya, Palitana in Gujarat, IM 53-112-1916, had been presented by Sir Henry Bartle Edward Frere, Ist baronet, G.C.B, C.C.S.I. (1815-1884), former Governor of Bombay, in 1877.\n\r\nAs John Guy writes in <i>The Peaceful Liberators</i> the high degree of stylistic uniformity suggests that these pieces were collected from a single temple, or at least from sites that were contemporary.  They are related to known Solanki dynasty temples of the 11th and 12th centuries: inscriptions record that endowments were made to the Shatrunjaya temples during the reign of Siddharaja Jayasimha (1095-1142), a Solanki ruler renowned for his patronage.\r\n\r\nGiven by the Architectural Association, Royal Architectural Museum. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Museum records (Asia Department registers and/or Central Inventory) as part of a 2023 provenance research project.\r\n\r\nR.P. 1915-3836M and R.P. 1916-2270M","historicalContext":"The Buddha seated in meditation called the earth to witness his resistance to the temptations of the evil goddess Mara. This posture (<i>bhumisparsa-mudra)</i> became a classic attitude in later Buddhist sculpture and was widely emulated elsewhere in the art of Buddhist Asia. Few monumental images of the Buddha survive from Eastern India where Buddhism, weakened by the arrival of popular Hinduism and by Muslim invasions, was nearing collapse. The Buddha was absorbed into later Hinduism as a divine incarnation (<i>avatar</i>) of Vishnu and many Pala Buddha images appear to have been worshipped in this form.","briefDescription":"Seated Buddha Shakyamuni, basalt, Patna, eastern India, early 12th century","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Guy, John: 'Indian Temple Sculpture', London, V & A Publication, 2007, p.129, pl.145.\r\nISBN 9781851775095.\r\n"},{"reference":{"text":"Arts of Bengal : the heritage of Bangladesh and eastern India : an exhibition organized by the Whitechapel Art Gallery in collaboration with the Victoria and Albert Museum : 9 November-30 December 1979, Whitechapel Art Gallery ..., 12 January-17 February 1980, Manchester City Art Gallery ... . [London]: Whitechapel Art Gallery, [1979] Number: 085488047X (pbk.) :","id":"AUTH339757"},"details":"p.25","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"L'escultura en el temples indis : l'art de la devoció : exposició organitzada per la Fundació \"La Caixa\" i el Victoria & Albert Museum, Londres. [Barcelona: Obra social, Fundació \"la Caixa\", c2007 Number: 9788476649466","id":"AUTH339669"},"details":"p.81, Cat.40","free":""}],"production":"Patna district, Bihar, eastern India","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"Buddhism","id":"AAT73738"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Buddha Shakyamuni\r\nAbout 1100–50\r\nPala period\r\nThe historical Buddha was called Shakyamuni (‘Sage of the Shakya\r\nclan’). He abandoned his princely life to seek a way to escape\r\nthe cycle of death and rebirth. Here he is shown just before his\r\nenlightenment. Seated in meditation, he calls the earth to witness\r\nhis successful resistance to the temptations of the evil god Mara.\r\nAfter achieving enlightenment and teaching his new way, he\r\nentered nirvana.\r\nBasalt\r\nEastern India (Patna District, Bihar)\r\nGiven by the Architectural Association\r\nMuseum no. IM.112-1916","date":{"text":"06/06/2011","earliest":"2011-06-06","latest":"2011-06-06"}}],"partNumbers":["IM.112-1916"],"accessionNumberNum":"112","accessionNumberPrefix":"IM","accessionYear":1916,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LW0226"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-04-08","recordCreationDate":"2000-02-13","availableToBook":false}}