Q. Early Buddhist Stupa-art, while depicting folk motifs and narratives, successfully expounds Buddhist ideals. Elucidate.
The Stupa is the true image of the Buddha having an ancient and detailed history. It is being regarded as a sacred space and a symbolic representation of Buddha’s burial mound. The historical development of the Stupa can be divided into Hinayana and Mahayana phases. The Stupa developed as the nucleus of Buddhist faith and worship. It enables the worshiper not only to think of the Buddha as an imminent reality but also epitomizes his enlightenment and nirvana.
According to Buddhists’ philosophy building stupas has karmic benefits. Most of the stupas are placed on a square foundation having four sides, each having a gate called Torana.
These are directional gates guiding the practitioner to the correct path to enlightenment ie the understanding of the four noble truths. The decoration of the Stupas during the Hinayana period was restricted entirely to the sculpture of the vedikas and toranas.
The Yasti or pole represented the axis-mundi that connected heaven and earth. The universe is thought to revolve around the Yasti. The practitioner walks around stupa as a meditational practice focusing on the Buddha’s teachings. This movement suggests the endless cycle of rebirth (samsara).
The hemispherical dome called the Anda placed above a cylindrical base represents the infinite dome of heaven and signifies the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. Rising from the harmika was one of the most important elements of the stupa. The harmika, situated atop the Anda reflects the attainment of nirvana which required the sacrifice of the self and the world. Therefore the art and architecture associated with Buddhism symbolized the Buddhist ideals in their length and breadth.