Life of Buddha in Gandhara Art

The world famous statue depicting Ascetic Siddhartha practicing severe austerities is found in the Museum of Lahore, Pakistan. There is perhaps hardly any other piece of religious sculpture that can move viewers as this sculpture can. The renowned site, where the Golden Age of Buddhist art and sculpture flourished from the 1st century B.C. to the 7th century A.D. is Gandhara.

            Once famous center of Buddhist activities, is Taxila existed in its neighborhood. Its extensive ruins speak eloquently about the astonishing presence of this ancient seat of learning. The cells, where scholars resided and studied, can still be seen though the vagaries of time and weather have reduced these to a dilapidated condition. 

The tradition of Grandhara Art is the birth place of many strands of Buddhist art and sculpture. Historically, it is in the Gandhara tradition that the Buddha came to be represented first as a person. Prior to this, the Supremely Enlightened Buddha was symbolized in art and sculpture either through foot-prints or through a stylized Bodhi Tree. The personal representations of the Buddha originated probably through the inspiration derived from the Hellenistic tradition. In numerous bas reliefs and friezes, phases of the Buddha’s life are elaborately depicted.

Note:The matter taken from Buddhist Library