Inspiration from Buddhist art

by Andrew SCOTT

The mighty conqueror Asoka, after being transformed into one of the most compassionate monarchs, sent out missionaries to all parts of the world to spread the noble message of the Buddha.Of the numerous missionaries that left India, Arhat Mahinda came to Sri Lanka on a Poson Poya day in 247 B.C., 300 years after the passing away of Buddha. He converted Tissa, the monarch of Lanka, on the hallowed hill of Mihintale, in historic Anuradhapura. Immediately Buddhism became the religion of the Sinhalese and its noble message spread into every inhabited part of the island. From that onwards Buddhist art continued to influence the entire nation.

The introduction of Buddhism to Lanka conferred many benefits on the land. It introduced education and culture, encouraged literature and art and advocated purity in thought, word and deed and elevated the character of the people. Sinhalese brick-work and architecture as well as the art of sculpture came to Sri Lanka with the introduction of Buddhism and the first buildings that came up in this country were dagabas and viharas whose ruins are still admired.

Shortly it became customary to have Buddha images in places of worship and the art of sculpture received a great impetus. Subsequently the temple became the centre from which the spirit of religious devotion radiated and this became the force which inspired the entire community.

When one enters a Buddhist temple one is attracted by the colossal statues of the Buddha in various postures. An age-long custom for worship has instilled a genuine feeling for sculpture and artistry in the minds of the Sinhalese.

As Anatole France once noted: It is in the heart of the people that art and poetry should steep themselves continually, in order to remain green and flourishing. It is their fountain of Youth."

Even during the time of the Buddha various systems of paintings expressed the mind's experience in colours. The missionaries who came to Lanka to spread the noble doctrine had realised that art had an arresting power to attract people to Buddhism. It was as a result of this idea that Arhat Mahinda arrived in Lanka with 18 guilds of artists. There is every evidence to believe that by the time of Mahinda's death there was an ancient art gallery in Anuradhapura. This concept of spreading Buddhism through the medium of art has remained so throughout the growth of Buddhism in this hallowed land.

The wisdom and understanding of the Sinhalese villager, whose beliefs and emotions have been fashioned by the most liberal religion of the worlds, over a long period of more than 2,500 years, are graphically exhibited by their sculpture which beggars description. Various types of Buddhist art have given and still continue to give tremendous inspiration to Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. Rhythm, grace and universal appeal are the most prominent features of Buddhist art in Sri Lanka.

Inspiring powers

The early Buddhist art of Sri Lanka was essentially Indian. But later the artists of Sri Lanka developed their inspiring powers of expression through Buddhist sculpture. As. Dr. Ananda Coomaraswamy noted: "Early Buddhist art is popular, sensuous and animistic Indian art, adapted to the purpose of the illustration of Buddhist monuments." However, there is no doubt that early Buddhist art in Sri Lanka developed in isolation, backed by the inspiring efforts of Buddhist monks. The characteristic features of the sculptural remains of Mihintale represent an ascetic culture in a serene village setting.

In all Buddhist art of Sri Lanka religion was the theme and the rocks and walls of temples were the canvass. Talented painters, drawn from various spheres of life, chronicled the sacred stories of Buddhism in colour, enabling devotees to learn the Buddha Dhamma through the medium of these paintings.

It was by way of these stories in canvass that monks imparted the sacred knowledge to the laity. These brilliant paintings created permanent religious images in the minds of their beholders. Still later paintings of Jataka stories began to inspire the religious and social life of the community. The Mahavamsa has it that King Dutugemunu got artists to depict scenes from the Vassantara Jatakaya in the relic chamber of Ruwanweliseya dagoba and Fa Hien, the Chinese traveller, mentions that both sides of the road in the ancient city of Anuradhapura were decorated with paintings of the Jataka stories.

The Vessantara Jatakaya, the story of the last birth of Buddha-to-be, is a painting which has inspired many people through the ages. This painting depicts a king who gave up all worldly pleasures and belongings including his wife and children. The noble theme of this painting is ever fresh in the minds of the people. Some of the finest works of Buddhist art are found in Sri Lanka. Most of the images and stupas we see today are ruins left behind by a rich civilisation of many centuries. It is unique that these temples and ruins inspire us as much as they inspired a completely different civilisation of the past.

Buddhist art of Sri Lanka is intimately connected with the indigenous culture of this land. There is little doubt that many of the builders down the ages were inspired by the Buddhist art and architecture of the country. However, in order to understand any of these inspiring works of Buddhist art it is imperative that one should get into the vision of the artist's mind. Jawaharlal Nehru, writing about the inspiration he derived from Buddhist art says: "I know nothing about art, eastern or western and am not competent to say anything about it. I react to it as any untutored layman might do. Some painting or sculpture or building fills me with delight, or moves me and makes me feel a strange emotion; or it just pleases me a little; or it does not affect me at all and I pass it by almost unnoticed; or it repels me: I cannot explain these reactions or speak learnedly about the merits or demerits of works of art.

The Buddha statue at Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka moved me greatly and picture of it has been my companion for many years. On the other hand some famous temples in South India, heavy with carving and detail, disturb me and fill me with unease."

The sculptural remains of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa depict both spiritual and philosophical themes. The mood expressed by many of these Buddha statues, mostly hewn in rough stone, is serenity.

The decaying stupendous stupas suggest the impermanence of life and the nature of the variety of man's unique achievements.

The magnificent monasteries, reminiscent of luxurious living, are highly suggestive of serene religious symbolism.

When one reflects about these ancient remains of Buddhist art, with a little sense of imagination of course, the original theme of the sculptor or the painter can be easily interpreted.

Deep sense

The Samadhi Buddha image has been created and perfected by countless generations of devoted artists. Its disciplined body and limbs show a deep sense of sensitivity to the sense of the external world while the image itself depicts a subtle spiritual mood. This piece of Buddhist art is well-known for its great inspiration and the clear expression of its philosophic theme.

Isurumuniya, with its famous stone lovers is equally passionate today as it was in the past. In fact Anuradhapura, the ancient city in which the story of Buddhism in Sri Lanka began, is a city of tumbling stone pillars and learning guard stones which whisper of a civilization of more than 2,000 years ago.

Stone monuments

At Mihintale, where exactly the story of Buddhism in Sri Lanka began, the stone monuments are dumb with many secrets and they stand out prominently as great forces of inspiration. The entire place is dotted with caves where monks lived and preached. Even though in decay these ruins and paintings continue to inspire their visitors.

By mere necessity ancient artists had to serve their masters, generally the kings, who built gigantic religious monuments.

As a result these artists had to do only what was requested of them. However, as human beings, these artists too had their lighter moods when they expressed their creative talents by doing carvings or paintings expressing fun and play.

Many Buddhist and non-Buddhist scholars and writers have been inspired by the spirit and outlook of Buddhist art and sometimes these moving feelings have inspired them unawares.

The spirit underlying Buddhist art is an intimate revelation of national thought and character.

The main idea of all Buddhist art is to make religion and Buddhist philosophy intelligible particularly to the common masses.

As a result the artist has inspired all by the harmony of his moods with the problems of life and made the Sinhala villager a highly cultured individual.

Early Buddhist art has exercised a powerful influence on the modern artists too.

It must also be realised that even though some of these Buddhist paintings are believed to have been done by monks, the spirit underlying them and the mood in which the moving drama of life is depicted, is unique.