Amaravati Art in the Context of Andhra Archaeology
by Sreyashi Ray chowdhuri | 2018 | 90,477 words
This page relates 鈥榃orship of the Bodhi-tree鈥� of the study on Amaravati Art in the Context of Andhra Archaeology, including museum exhibitions of the major archeological antiquities. These pages show how the Buddhist establishment of Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh) survived from 4th century BCE to 14th century CE. It includes references and translations of episodes of Buddha鈥檚 life drawn from the Avadanas and Jatakas which are illustrated in Amaravati art.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
Worship of the Bodhi-tree
[Full title: Different symbols visible in the 础尘补谤腻惫补迟墨 Art: Worship of the Bodhi-tree]
Significance:-
Originally the Bodhi tree, the Tree of Enlightenment was considered as a venerated object of Buddhism. Later it came to be regarded as a symbol of Buddha and became a sacred object of worship. H.R Perera opined that since Buddha allowed the laity to practice some outward form of worship he should be held responsible for the inception of veneration and worship of the Bodhi-tree[1]. The Kalinga Bodhi 闯腻迟补办补 supports this assumption. According to it when 膧苍补苍诲补 requested Buddha to suggest something which could represent him and be venerated whenever he was absent, the latter replied that the Bodhi tree was fit for veneration whether he was alive or dead. Thus 膧苍补苍诲补 obtained a seed of Bodhi tree from Bodhgay膩 and planted it in the court of the Jetavana Monastery. At that moment it exhibited a miracle as the Bodhi tree rose to 500 cubits high. Buddha sat under it after which the first Bodhi-festival was organized. The Paduma 闯腻迟补办补 also records the veneration of the Bodhi tree by monks with blue lotuses.
Various Buddhist works like 惭补丑腻 叠辞诲丑颈惫补峁僺补, 惭补丑腻va峁僺a, 厂颈峁僪补濒补 叠辞诲丑颈惫补峁僺补, 厂颈丑补岣穉惫补迟迟丑耻, Petavatthu and 搁补蝉补惫腻丑颈苍颈 deal with Bodhi-puja and veneration of the Bodhi-tree by Buddhist monks. The 础艣辞办补n edicts mention that 础艣辞办补 and Devan膩mpiyatissa of Sri Lanka held grand festivals in honour of the Bodhi tree[2].
Depiction:-
Among several representations mention may be made of a drum slab containing the Enlightenment frieze. It should be stated that the presence of Buddha is indicated symbolically by the throne below the tree of knowledge (Bodhi tree). On either side of the tree are devotees with 笔奴谤峁嘺驳丑补峁璦蝉. A pair of kinnaras is visible hovering above the tree[3]. This specimen is preserved in the Archaeological Museum, 础尘补谤腻惫补迟墨.
A fragment of a square rail post from 础尘补谤腻惫补迟墨 in the Indian Museum bears the relief of a Bodhi tree and an empty seat with padded cushions at the centre. On either side of the tree are two devotees in anjali 尘耻诲谤腻. The remaining two devotees hold a huge shaft of an umbrella with three discs (颁丑补迟迟谤腻惫补濒濒颈) and a huge flag (顿丑惫补箩腻) on both sides of the tree. On the top are seen two flying 痴颈诲测腻诲丑补谤补蝉 scattering flowers.[4] (Pl 28d)
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Saibaba V.V.S, Op.cit, p 29.
[2]:
Ibid, p 30.
[3]:
[4]:
Acc No. NS 370/ A25080, Indian Museum, Kolkata.