Appeal of Buddhist art remains universal

by Andrew Scott

The mighty conqueror Asoka, after been transformed into one of the most compassionate monarchs, sent out missionaries to all parts of the world to spread the noble and appealing message of the Buddha. Of the numerous missionaries that left India, the cradle of Buddhism, Mahinda Thera came to Sri Lanka on a Poson Poya day 300 years after the death of the Buddha. He converted Tissa, the monarch of Lanka, on the hallowed hill of Mihintale, in historic Anuradhapura.

Thereafter Tissa, the convert, became known as Devanampiyatissa, Tissa, the beloved of the Gods. Immediately Buddhism became the religion of the Sinhalese and its message spread into every inhabited part of this hallowed island. From that time Buddhist art and architecture have continued to influence the life and activities of the entire nation.

Benefits

The introduction of Buddhism to Lanka conferred many benefits to the country. It introduced education culture and encouraged literature and art. Advocated purity in thought, word and deed and elevated the character of the people. Brick-work and architecture as well as the art of sculpture came to Sri Lanka with the introduction of Buddhism.

The earliest buildings that came up in this island were dagobas and viharas. Shortly it became customary to have Buddha images in places of Buddhist 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 invigorated and inspired the entire community.

When one enters a Buddhist temple even today he is attracted by the colossal statues of the Buddha in various postures. An age-long custom for worship seems to have instilled a genuine feeling for sculpture and artistry in the minds of the Sinhalese. Even during the time of the Buddha various systems of paintings expressed the mind's experience in colours.

The misionries who came to Sri Lanka to spread the noble doctrine had realised that art has an arresting power to attract people to Buddhism. It was as a result of this idea that Mahinda Thera arrived in Lanka with 18 guilds of artists. This concept of spreading Buddhism through the medium of art has remained so throughout the growth of Buddhism in this hallowed land.

Inspiration

Various types of Buddhist art had given and still continue to give a tremendous inspiration to Buddhists and non-Buddhists as well. Rhythm, grace and universal appeal are the most prominent features of Buddhist art in Sri Lanka. Early Buddhist art of Sri Lanka was essentially Indian.

It was later that the artists of this country developed their inspiring powers of expression through Buddhist art and sculpture. As Dr. Ananda Coomaraswamy, the well-known historian and critic of art noted: “Early Buddhist art was popular, sensuous and animistic Indian art, adapted to the purpose of the illustration of Buddhist themes.”

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 these paintings. It was by way of these stories in canvass that bhikkhus imparted the sacred knowledge to the laymen.

Paintings

These brilliant paintings created permanent religious images in the minds of their beholders. 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 Vessantara Jataka in the relic chamber of Ruwanweliseya 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 is a painting which has inspired many people right down the ages.

The 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 this beholders.

Some of the finest works of Buddhist art and architecture are found in Sri Lanka. Most of the images and stupas we see today are ruins left by a rich civilization of many centuries. These temples and ruins inspire us as much as they inspired a completely different civilisation of the past.

Culture

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, to understand any of these beautiful 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 said, “The Buddha statue at Anuradhapura in Ceylon moved me greatly and a 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, remniscent of luxurious living, are highly suggestive of a serene religious symbolism. When one reflects on 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 understood.

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 senses 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.

Stone pillars

Anuradhapura, the ancient city in which the story of Buddhism in Sri Lanka began, is a city of tumbling stone pillars and leaning guard stones which whisper of a civilisation of more than 2,000 years ago. At Mihintale, where exactly the story of Buddhism in Sri Lanka began, the stone monuments are dumb with may secrets and they stand out prominently as great forces inspiration.

Even though in decay these ruins and paintings continue to inspire visitors and pilgrims. Mihintale, where the fate of the nation was carved, is the most hallowed spot in Sri Lanka.

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

The spirit underlying Buddhist art is an intimate revelation of national thought and character. The main idea of Buddhist art is to make religion and philosophy intelligible to the illiterate 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.

Buddhist art has exercised a powerful influence on some of our modern artists too. It must also be realised that even though some of these ancient paintings are believed to have been done by artistically talented bhikkhus the spirit underlying them and the mode in which the moving drama of life is depicted is unique. Taken as a whole Buddhist art has a universal appeal.