Ivory carved tusk depicting Buddha life stories

20th century carved ivory tusk at Decorative Arts Gallery, National Museum, New Delhi

Carved elephant tusk depicting Buddha life stories is an intricately carved complete single tusk now exhibited at the Decorative Arts gallery,^[1] National Museum, New Delhi, India. This tusk was donated to the Museum. This tusk, which is nearly five foot long, illustrates forty three events in the life of the Buddha and is thought to have been made by early 20th century craftsmen from the Delhi region.

Description

The use of the complete ivory tusks for carving was popular in 18th and 19th century India, particularly in the Delhi region apart from Burma. Similar whole tusk carvings are also found in the Ivory Coast, Congo^[2]^[3] and Benin but made from the tusks of African elephants.

The art of ivory carving in India is very ancient with references found in Kalidasa's Meghadūta. The earliest ivory carving from the Indian region is comb dating to the 2nd century CE found at Taxila. Ivory carving flourished in Assam and Mysore where elephants were available and the art of ivory carving had royal patronage. Ivory was an object of trade between kingdoms and they found their way into areas where the art of carving had patronage.^[4]

This ivory tusk illustrates important life events of Lord Buddha in 43 circular roundel, first 25 referring to the story of Buddha's birth to his enlightenment followed by 18 depicting his life events from enlightenment to Mahaparinirvana. Similar scenes have been presented in sculptures and paintings many a times but this ivory tusk shows few new scenes of Buddha's life such as Siddharatha's fight for a bird, his move against animal sacrifice and realization of death. As the thickness of the tusk reduces upwards, one can see at the tip three well-known postures depicting Bhumisparsha mudra, Abhayamudra and Dharmachakrapravatan mudra besides the roundels. There is also an intricately carved floral creeper banding around the roundels enhancing its beauty.

Scenes

The story runs from bottom to top and is arranged clockwise.^[5]

Pre Enlightenment Life Events of Buddha

Depiction of Kapilavastu, where prince Siddharatha lived The first roundel shows mountains, flora-fauna and architecture which gives the impression of a town probably Kapilavastu.
Seated figure of King Suddhodana The father of Siddhartha, King Suddhodana of Kapilavastu has been shown seated on his throne.
Dream of Queen Mayadevi The mother of Siddhartha, Queen Mayadevi is having a dream of an elephant which symbolizes the saintly soul's appearance in her womb.
Mayadevi visiting her parents
Mayadevi with her son Siddharatha This scene depicts the birth of Siddhartha, Prince of Kapilavastu in a different manner from other literary and sculptural narrations. Here Queen Mayadevi is shown seated with a baby in her lap surrounded by cauri-bearer and friends.^[1]
Sage Asita visiting King Suddhodana
Mayadevi's death scene^[2]
Prince Siddhartha in a garden
Siddhartha and Devadutta with a wounded bird
Siddhartha tends and cures the bird
Siddhartha as an archer in the Swamvara of Princess Yasodhara
Yasodhara garlanding Siddhartha
Siddhartha meets an old man
Siddhartha sees a corpse
Siddhartha sees a meditating ascetic
Siddhartha leaves his sleeping wife and sons
Siddhartha with his assistant Chandaka leaving the Palace
Siddhartha cuts his hair and removes his jewellery and royal costume
Siddhartha receives bhiksha from a woman
Siddhartha in Meditation
Five saintly persons visit Siddhartha while he meditates
Buddha seated under a tree in Abhayamudra
Sujata offering kheer to Buddha
Māra tries to disturb and divert Buddha: Māra, the powerful demon arrives with the aim of preventing the Bodhisattva from attaining his goal. Māra attempts to terrify the Bodhisattva with his powerful army, and to seduce him with his daughters, but he is unable to divert the Bodhisattva from his goal. Māra gives up, defeated.
Budhha in Abhaya mudra

^ Parimoo, R. (1982). Life of Buddha in Indian Sculpture. New Delhi. p. 11. |access-date= requires |url= (help)
^ Beal, Samuel (1875). The Romantic Legend of Sâkya Buddha: From the Chinese-Sanscrit. New Delhi: Trübner & Company. p. 63. Retrieved 5 January 2014.

Post Enlightenment Life Events of Buddha

Buddha visits his five old friends, who became the first disciples: Post his enlightenment, Buddha decided to first teach Dharma to his five friends who were his companions during his ascetic practices at Bodh Gaya. His five friends were Kondanna, Bhaddiya, Vappa, Mahanama and Assaji. Buddha went to Sarnath to meet them. For the first time he taught the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.
Buddha conquers the Agni-Pujaka Jatadhari Kasyapa
Buddha addressing the masses
Buddha walking with a shepherd, holding a lamb
Magadh King welcoming Buddha: Buddha found patronage in emperor Bimbisāra. The emperor accepted Buddhism as his personal faith and allowed the establishment of many Buddhist vihāras. This eventually led to the renaming of the entire region as Bihār.^[1]
Śāriputra and Maudgalyayana become the followers of Buddha
Buddha helping the grieved mother to come out from her child's birth
Suddhodhana welcoming Buddha at Kapilavastu
Buddha with Yasodhara and her son, Rahul
Buddha blesses Rāhula: On advise of Yashodhara, Rāhula asked Buddha for his "inheritance". The Buddha called the venerable Sariputta and asked him to ordain Rāhula who became the first Sāmanera (novice monk). After Rāhula's ordination the Buddha taught him the importance of telling the truth. Buddha placed truth as the highest of all virtues. Rāhula subsequently became an arhant.
Amrapali, famous courtesan, greeting Buddha: Buddha while visiting Vaishali stayed at Amrapalli's mango grove. She invited Buddha for a meal which he accepted. She later donated the mangrove to his order. She accepted the Buddhist way, and remained an active supporter of the Buddhist order.
Ladies from the palace watch Buddha preaching
Nanda before Buddha
Buddha stops Nanda, who tried to escape from the Sangha
A mad elephant rushes towards Buddha
Buddha tames the mad elephant
Buddha speaks to a large gathering
Mahaparinirvana of Buddha

^ India by Stanley Wolpert (Page 32)

Buddha and Mudras

Buddha in Dhyana mudra
Buddha in Abhayamudra
Buddha in Bhumisparsha mudra

References

↑ "Decorative Arts Gallery at National Museum reopened". The Hindu. New Delhi. July 6, 2013. Retrieved Jan 4, 2014.
↑ Edwards, Owen (2008). "Spirals of History". Smithsonian Magazine.
↑ http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/aoa/i/ivory_tusks_carved_with_figure.aspx
↑ Bhattacharyya, Asoke Kumar; Sengupta, Pradip Kumar (1991). Foundations of Indian Musicology: Perspectives in the Philosophy of Art and Culture. Abhinav Publications. p. 124. ISBN 9788170172734.
↑ Pathak, Anamika (1997–98). "Carved Elephant Tusk Illustrating Buddha's Life". Kala- The Journal of Indian Art History Congress. Guwahati: Indian Art History Congress. IV. |access-date= requires |url= (help)

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