The Infant Buddha Shakyamuni

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The Infant Buddha Shakyamuni

India, Jammu and Kashmir, Kashmir region, circa 800
Sculpture
Brass inlaid with silver and copper
5 3/4 x 2 x 1 3/4 in. (14.6 x 5.08 x 4.44 cm)
Museum Acquisition Fund (M.87.233)
South and Southeast Asian Art
Not currently on public view

Curator Notes

...
This is a rare, if not unique, image of the infant Buddha Shakyamuni from South Asia. Comparable images from East Asia are widely worshipped on the Buddha’s birthday (Buddha Jayanti), which is usually observed in May. The Buddha is depicted here as an adolescent rather than as an actual infant. Standing on a lotus base, he is depicted with his adult iconographic features of snail-curl hair and elongated earlobes. His right hand is held in the gesture of reassurance (abhaya mudra). His sacred forehead marking (urna) was once inlaid with a gemstone. The inscription on the base is written in the Sarada script of Kashmir. It reads, This is the pious gift of Shrideva, who is [?]. (Translation by Gouriswar Bhattacharya.)
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Bibliography

  • Little, Stephen, Tushara Bindu Gude, Karina Romero Blanco, Silvia Seligson, Marco Antonio Karam. Las Huellas de Buda. Ciudad de México : Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, 2018.
  • Pal, Pratapaditya. Indian Sculpture, vol.2. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art; University of California Press, 1988.
  • Little, Stephen, Tushara Bindu Gude, Karina Romero Blanco, Silvia Seligson, Marco Antonio Karam. Las Huellas de Buda. Ciudad de México : Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, 2018.
  • Pal, Pratapaditya. Indian Sculpture, vol.2. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art; University of California Press, 1988.
  • Pal, Pratapaditya. "Art and Ritual in Buddhism." Asian Art vol. II, no. 3 (Summer 1989):  33-55.
  • Menzies, Jackie, ed.  Buddha: Radiant Awakening.  Sydney, Australia:  Art Gallery of New South Wales, 2001.
  • Xingyun, editor. Encyclopedia of Buddhist Arts. Los Angeles: Buddha's Light Publications USA, 2018.
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