Buddhism Flashcards
(10 cards)
why and how were stupas build?
WHY-
DEFINATION, ASSOCIATED WITH PRE BUDDHIST TIMES, EMBLEMN OF BUDDHISM, NUCLEOUS OF BUDDHISM FAITH, ASHOKVANDANA, EXAMPLES- SANCHI, BHARHUT.
HOW-
DONATIONS, PEOPLE HWO MAADE DONATION, 100, GUILDS, IVORY WORKERS, BHIKKKUNIS, BHIKKUS.
“Historians try to understand the meaning of sculpture at Sanchi by comparing it
with textual evidence such as Jataka tales and hagiographies.” Elaborate with valid
arguments.
1) understnading sculpture w/ help of jataka tales. northern gateways depcits an urban image of thatched trees, huts. however after reading the the Veesantara Jataka historians came to a conclusion that it was a story of a prince who gave away everything to live with his family to live in forest.
2) taking help from biographies of buddha, art historians had to acquire familiarity with biographies of buddha in order to understand sculptures buddhist.
buddhas presence is shown in form of symbols- empty seat a tree which is surrouned by people, stupa, wheel.
Empty seat indicates meditation of buddha.
Wheel symbolises the first sermon of buddha.
stupa represents the mahapar nibbana
Structure of stupa
ANDA, YASHTI, HARMIKA, CIRCULAR UMBRELLAS, four enterance gateway , railing.
anda- dome of heaven harmika- abode of god yashti, umbrella These surmounted the Yashti., four entrence gate away each gate was supported by a superstructure. RAILING separated the sacred place from the secular world
To what extent popular traditions influence the Buddhist Sculptures at Sanchi
stupa?
SHALABHANJIKA
Use of animals-
Maya/Gajalakshmi-
Depiction of Serpent-
Shalabhanjika- asuspicious symbol and was integrated into a decor of stupa. stupa.According to popular belief , this was a woman whose touch caused
trees to flower and bear fruit. Considered a symbol of growth, fertility.
Some animals stories from jataka tales have been depcited at the sanchi. These animals include elephants n monkeys. animals have been carved to create a lively scene. Some animals represent human attributes for example elephants represent strength.
maya- A motif of woman surrounded by lotuses and elephants sprinkling on her, perfomring abisheka is a part decoration of sanchi. Some historians identify her as maya, mother of buddha. While some others identity her as the goddess of fortune who is assocaited with elephants.
Depcit of serpants has been found in many pillars. The motif has been derieved from popular tradtion but has not been recored in texts. Art historians call sanchi to be the centre of serpent workship.
early buddha teaching vs late buddha teaching
Early/ hinayana/ lesser vehicle
late/ mahayana/ great vehicle- bodhisattas.
early/Hinayana / vehicle
-imp given to self effort to achieve nibbana
-buddha was regareded as a human who acieved enlightenment by his own self efforts
-no image workship of buddha.
Late/ mahayana/ great vehicle
-buddha as a saviour-
bodhisattas
Bodhisattas were perceived as compassionate beings who made efforts not to
attain Nibbana but help others.(Who
-he could ensure salvation.
-workship of images of buddha / bodhisattas became imp
Growth behind buddhism/ jainism
-unrest of religious practices
-complex sacrifices
-rigid caste system
Q12. Short note on Buddhist Sangha and its democratic functioning. (DONE IN
CLASS)
-oragnisation of buddhist monks
-diff eco class
-treated equally
-lived simply-
-decisions were taken by voting n discussion
-functioning was democratic
-members were called bhikkunis
-emphasis was laid on metta, karuna and rules/conduct/
growth behind buddhism
-dissatisfied
-gave imp to rules/conducts
-metta karuna
jainism vs buddhism
torch bearers / point of commonlity/ sects
pearls of wisdom/ ideology.
Jainism
-24 tirthankaras
-mahavira
=vardhamana
profounder was a kshatriya prince borin in bihar/ jain family
Digambaras, svetambaras
5 vows- abstain from k,s,l.
celibacy. no hoarding of property.
imp idea of jainism was that the world was animate even the rocks and water had life. Cycle of rebirth and birth is shaped by karma. To escape the cycle of karma Asceticism and penance is required.
monastic
existence is a necessary condition of salvation.
BUDDHISM-
lord buddha, shakya clan in lumbini, hinayana, mahayana. World is contantly changing, nothing is permanent. Path of modernisation should be followed.social world is created by humans, Sorrow is intrinsic to life.
world is conatantly changind it is soul less and sorrow is part of human life. Individual righteious act is required to escape from cycle of rebirth and attain nibbana
Hinayana VS MAHAYANA
followers, sought, idol workship, language, prevailed.
