Buddha, seated in bhumisparsa mudra, surrounded by five stupas (votive plaque) / Artist Unknown, India, Northeastern India

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Record Details

Accession Number
1990/1.176
Title
Buddha, seated in bhumisparsa mudra, surrounded by five stupas (votive plaque)
Artist Nationality
Indian
Medium and Support
terracotta
Object Creation Date
12th century
Object Creation Place
Asia (continent)
India (nation)
Bengal
Creation Place 1
Asia (continent)
Creation Place 2
India (nation)
Creation Place 3
Bengal
Dimensions
12.4 cm x 9.8 cm x 2.3 cm (4 7/8 in. x 3 7/8 in. x 7/8 in.)
Century
12th century
Primary Object Classification
Sculpture
Primary Object Type
carving
Secondary Object Classification
Ritual Objects
Secondary Object Type
figure
Physical Description
This clay votive plaque depicts the Buddha in the gesture of “calling the earth to witness." He is shown here surrounded by five stupas, or reliquary monuments.
Subject Matter
The Buddha in bhumisparsa mudra (the gesture of touching the earth with his right hand, palm inward), signaling his victory over Mara. He is shown here surrounded by five stupas, or reliquary monuments, signifying his attainment of nirvana.
Small votive plaques such as this one may have been produced in bodh Gaya as a memento for pilgrims to the sacred site. Portable images such as these helped transmit the Pala style east to Burma and north to Nepal and Tibet.
Primary Keywords
buddhism
mudra
votive image
Rights
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Technical Details

Image Size
759 x 697
File Size
50 KB
Record
1990/1.176
Link to this Item
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1990-sl-1.176/1990_1.176.jpg

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https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1990-SL-1.176:1990_1.176.JPG

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"Buddha, seated in bhumisparsa mudra, surrounded by five stupas (votive plaque); Artist Unknown, India, Northeastern India." In the digital collection University of Michigan Museum of Art. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1990-sl-1.176/1990_1.176.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed March 28, 2024.
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