Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara and the Taj Mahal

Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara and the Taj Mahal — Comments Off
6
Dec 09

Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara and the Taj Mahal

Indian quite often intended as a means of religious expression. Both Buddhism and Islam are common religions in India and because of this, art is often found that represents both of these religions. I am particularly enamored with the sculptural pieces in Indian art. The Bodhisattva Avaolokiteshvara is an example of Indian sculpture originating from the Buddhist religion and the Taj Mahal is a and example of Indian architecture that originates more from the Islamic tradition. These two pieces are dramatically different in size and scale, however the forms have many similarities.

The Taj Mahal is located in Agra, India. It was created in the Mughal period under the reign of Shah Jahan. It was constructed around 1632-1648 A.D. It is located on the bank of the Yamuna River, which is located on the Northern side of India. It was origianally created to be a mausoleum for the wife of Shah Jahan, who ruled between 1628 and 1658. Shah Jahan himself was said to have been apart of some of the decisions behind the construction of the Taj Mahal.

To get to the TaJ Mahal, you first arrive at a grand gate to the complex. As you enter the gate, the tomb stands before the viewer. There is a large garden and a reflecting pool. The garden is 1000 feet by 1900 feet and it is divided in to four sections, each of them filled with plantings of trees and flowers. Around each garden are walkways that are maid up of inlaid stone that forms geometric patterns.

When the Taj Mahal was first constructed, the walkways were lined with fruit trees and cypresses, which were meant to symbolize life and death. There were also fountains in the shallow pools. Court musicians would have filled the space, making it a very magical space.

At the back of the garden is the tomb. On the sides of the tomb is a mosque and a building which looks identical to the mosque and is used as a resting hall. Both of these buildings sit on the same base as the tomb and seem to visually balance out the mass of the tomb itself. The buildings themselves are made  up primarily of red sandstone. The large central tomb, on the other hand, is made up of white marble, which really shines next to the red sandstone buildings that flank it.

The tomb sits on its own base. Like the tomb, the base of the tomb is made of white marble. The whole structures of the tomb is raised higher then the other buildings on its marble platform. There are four minarets, which look like  slender towers, at each corner of the surrounding space of the Taj Mahal. The three various levels of the minarets correspond with the tombs, symbolically creating a bond between them

At the top of each minaret sits a chattri, or pavilion. In traditional Indian palaces, Chattri were a common architectural feature. Chattri have their roots in the Islamic religion. Minarets also originate from the Islamic tradition. They were meant to be such a great height that they caused all the Islamic people to be called to prayer. The overall structure of the Taj Mahal is very curvilinear and has a certain fluidity about it.  Another work of Indian art that mimics the curvilinear lines of the Taj Mahal is the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara

The Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara is from Kurkihar, Bihar, in Central India. It is a piece from the late medieval period. It originates from the Pala dynasty, in the 12th century AD. It is crafted in gilt-bronze and sits approximately 10 inches high. It is currently housed in the Patna Museum in Patna.

A Bodhisattva is an individual who is advanced on the path to enlightenment in the beliefs of the Buddhism. The goal of Mahayana Buddhists was to help anyone they encountered achieve the path to enlightenment.  Avalokiteshvara is the bodhisattva of the greatest compassion. Avolokiteshvara vowed to forgo buddahood until everyone else became buddhas. He was one of the most populat bodhisattvas because of this.

In the statue of Avolokiteshvara, he is shown by his princely garments, instead of being dressed like Buddha who is always depicted wearing a standard monk‚Äôs robe.  Avolokiteshvara is specifically recognized by the lotus flower he holds and by the crown of his parent Buddha. The parent Buddha of Avolokiteshvara is Amitabha Buddha, from the Western Pure Land, which was the Buddhist version of paradise.

Avolokiteshvara is also depicted with three eyes, which is meant to say that he had the ability to see in miraculous ways. In the pose that Avolokiteshvara takes in this statue, he is shown in a relaxed posture known as the royal pose. One leg is slightly outstretched and points downwards and the other leg is folded into his lap and rests on the lotus seat, which is considered an emblem of spiritual purity. His torso creates a curved fluid line and his arms are somewhat bent and also have a certain fluidity about them

Both The Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara and The Taj Mahal are examples of Indian sculptural pieces. The Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara is a Buddhist statue, while the Taj Mahal is an Islamic tomb. Despite this, the two pieces have much in common in in the way in which the lines of the piece are handled.

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