4 Items in this Learning Collection
Collection Object
Collection Object
Collection Object
Copyright
All Rights Reserved
()
Buddha, seated in bhumisparsa mudra, surrounded by five stupas (votive plaque)
Accession Number
1990/1.176
Title
Buddha, seated in bhumisparsa mudra, surrounded by five stupas (votive plaque)
Artist(s)
Indian
Artist Nationality
Indian (South Asian)
Object Creation Date
12th century
Medium & Support
terracotta
Dimensions
4 7/8 in x 3 7/8 in x 15/16 in (12.4 cm x 9.8 cm x 2.3 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of George P. Bickford
Label copy
This clay plaque depicts the Buddha in the gesture of “calling the earth to witness” his countless past lives, through which he gradually acquired the merit that will now bear fruit in his spiritual awakening. This was an event that took place in Bodh Gaya in what is today the center of Bihar state, and small votive plaques such as this one may have been produced there as a memento for pilgrims to the sacred site. Small, portable images such as these helped transmit the Pala style east to Burma and north to Nepal and Tibet. (A carve stoned image of the same scene (1983/1.396) is also found in the UMMA collections.)
Exhibited in "Divine Encounters, Earthly Pleasures: Twenty Centuries of Indian Art," 12/12/03-2/22/04.
Subject matter
The Buddha in bhumisparsa mudra (the gesture of touching the earth with his right hand, palm inward), signaling his victory over Mara. He is shown here surrounded by five stupas, or reliquary monuments, signifying his attainment of nirvana.
Small votive plaques such as this one may have been produced in bodh Gaya as a memento for pilgrims to the sacred site. Portable images such as these helped transmit the Pala style east to Burma and north to Nepal and Tibet.
Physical Description
This clay votive plaque depicts the Buddha in the gesture of “calling the earth to witness." He is shown here surrounded by five stupas, or reliquary monuments.
Primary Object Classification
Sculpture
Primary Object Type
carving
Additional Object Classification(s)
Ritual Object
Collection Area
Asian
Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Keywords
Buddhism
1990/1.176
Title
Buddha, seated in bhumisparsa mudra, surrounded by five stupas (votive plaque)
Artist(s)
Indian
Artist Nationality
Indian (South Asian)
Object Creation Date
12th century
Medium & Support
terracotta
Dimensions
4 7/8 in x 3 7/8 in x 15/16 in (12.4 cm x 9.8 cm x 2.3 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of George P. Bickford
Label copy
This clay plaque depicts the Buddha in the gesture of “calling the earth to witness” his countless past lives, through which he gradually acquired the merit that will now bear fruit in his spiritual awakening. This was an event that took place in Bodh Gaya in what is today the center of Bihar state, and small votive plaques such as this one may have been produced there as a memento for pilgrims to the sacred site. Small, portable images such as these helped transmit the Pala style east to Burma and north to Nepal and Tibet. (A carve stoned image of the same scene (1983/1.396) is also found in the UMMA collections.)
Exhibited in "Divine Encounters, Earthly Pleasures: Twenty Centuries of Indian Art," 12/12/03-2/22/04.
Subject matter
The Buddha in bhumisparsa mudra (the gesture of touching the earth with his right hand, palm inward), signaling his victory over Mara. He is shown here surrounded by five stupas, or reliquary monuments, signifying his attainment of nirvana.
Small votive plaques such as this one may have been produced in bodh Gaya as a memento for pilgrims to the sacred site. Portable images such as these helped transmit the Pala style east to Burma and north to Nepal and Tibet.
Physical Description
This clay votive plaque depicts the Buddha in the gesture of “calling the earth to witness." He is shown here surrounded by five stupas, or reliquary monuments.
Primary Object Classification
Sculpture
Primary Object Type
carving
Additional Object Classification(s)
Ritual Object
Collection Area
Asian
Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Keywords
Buddhism
