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Burmese - Buddha at the Mahabodhi Temple - Walters 25257
Summary
This small plaque depicts the historical Buddha Shakyamuni seated with his right hand lowered to touch the ground. This is a depiction of the moment of his enlightenment at a place now revered as the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya, India. The legend of the Buddha's enlightenment involves his long struggle to find the middle path, to embrace the eight prescriptions for virtuous living, and finally his overcoming the temptation by the demon Mara. Seven scenes from the Buddha's life documenting his journey along the path to this climactic moment are arrayed around the large image of the seated Buddha. By touching the ground, the Buddha called upon the earth itself to testify to his enlightened state. Following this triumph, the Buddha would commence his lifetime of preaching the secrets of a virtuous life to all who would hear his words. Along the bottom of the impression, a line of as yet un-deciphered Mon script likely offers a Buddhist invitation to follow the Buddha's path. The scene serves as a kind of memento recalling this supremely important moment in the Buddha's exemplary life.
Plaques and of other votive objects depicting this scene were produced in large numbers at Bodh Gaya and were likely sold as souvenirs to pilgrims visiting the site. During the reign of the Buddhist Pala Kingdom (8th-12th century) in the Bengal and Bihar regions of India, portions of Sikkim, Nepal and virtually all of Bangladesh, this type of terracotta plaque was produced at many Indian locations. Some of these plaques must have accompanied pilgrims from Bodh Gaya back to temples in Pagan. The Burmese form of the Mahabodhi Temple plaque was based quite closely on the Pala model, but they are most often incised on the back with the names of royalty, and were then offered as sacred deposits in stupas and temples. The plaques served the dual purposes of creating merit for the donors and keeping alive the message of the Buddha as the religion was actively disappearing in India. With plaques like this one, the site of the Buddha's triumph was mystically carried to Burma where the religious traditions survived long after falling from prominence in the land of its origin.
It is one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Buddhists, as it is believed to be the place where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment under a bodhi tree. The temple complex includes the famous Bodhi tree, a meditation garden and several other shrines and temples. Mahabodhi Temple was first built by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BC, but the current structure dates from the 5th-6th century BC. The temple is built in the style of Indian rock-cut architecture and features intricate carvings and sculptures depicting scenes from the life of Buddha. The temple's main attraction is the Bodhi Tree, believed to be a direct descendant of the original tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment. Pilgrims from all over the world come to visit the temple and meditate under the Bodhi tree. The Mahabodhi Temple was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2002. The temple complex is open to visitors every day from sunrise to sunset and there is no entrance fee. However, visitors must dress modestly and remove their shoes before entering the temple.
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