FASTING BUDDHA

The fasting buddha in unpolished green stone.
Inspiration :
The Gandharan masterpiece (2nd cent. a.d.)
Currently located at the central museum, Lahore.

Brief Description :
This austere figure of the Mahayogi, Lord Buddha, in an emaciated form captures the essence of the buddha's rigorous seven year penance before he attained enlightenment. The superlative mastery of the medium moves hand in hand with the deeply emotive aspects of buddha's own life.

Before he could reach a conclusion of the "middle path" philosophy for attaining nirvana, he subjected his body to countless rigours. the original sculpture was inspired by accounts of buddha speaking to his disciples about his experiences before attaining salvation. He described how his stomach had touched his back

The extraordinarily effective rendering was doubtless inspired by the hellenic arts.