Buddha

India, Bihar or Bengal, Pala period, 9th century

Black Chlorite

Eugene Fuller Memorial Collection, 39.35

The enlightenment of the Buddha is one of the most popular themes in Indian art. This Pala-period example of the pivotal event shows the Buddha seated in his earth-touching gesture, in which he calls upon the earth goddess to witness his readiness to attain enlightenment. He is seated upon a lion throne and is flanked by mythological creatures. Above his halo is a branch of the bodhi tree, the tree he meditated under during this event.

Buddhism flourished under the Pala Empire during the eighth to twelfth centuries, and this northeastern region of India became the last stronghold of the Buddhist faith in the country of its origin. Located in Bihar and Bengal provinces, the Pala region became an important monastic and pilgrimage center. The Pala sculpture style is often referred to as an international style, due to the religious and artistic influences that spread from Pala to other parts of Asia. Buddhist pilgrims, monks, and travelers took Pala sculpture with them into Tibet, Nepal, Thailand, and Indonesia.

The use of polished black stone gives Pala sculpture a shiny finish, heightening the visibility of crisply carved details.