Images of Devotion - capriaquar.it

22. Maitreya
Stone
Uttar Pradesh, India
Kushâna period (circa 2 nd century)
46x27x12 cm
The Bodhisattva Maitreya (“The Loving One”) is worshipped
by all Buddhist schools as he is considered to be the coming
Buddha. He can be depicted in various forms and different
positions both as a Bodhisattva and as Buddha, appearing
to combine both in this particular image. The curls
of the hair in this statue resemble seashells and are a characterizing
feature in images of the Buddha ascribable to
the school of Mathurâ, possibly indicating Maitreya’s forthcoming
attainment of the state of Buddhahood. The fact
that there is no turban or diadem may also be considered a
sign of his nature of Buddha, whilst his garment and jewels
are part of the Bodhisattva’s typical attire. The ewer containing
lustral water is the main attribute by which it is pos-
85
sible to identify this image as Maitreya. The style in which
this image has been produced, with a full, fleshy body covered
in a tight-fitting garment and a long pleated drape worn
over his shoulder, is typical of the artistic production of the
school of Mathurâ, in northern India. Other elements ascribable
to this style are the frontal position and the way in
which the halo is crafted, featuring grooves which are identical
to those to be found in other sculptures from the Kushâna
period, coming from both Mathurâ and other locations.
This image is iconographically and stylistically similar to a
sculpture from Ahicchattrâ, in Uttar Pradesh, housed at the
National Museum in Delhi and identified as Maitreya by an
inscription 1 .
1 Susan L. Huntington - John C. Huntington, The Art of Ancient
India, Weatherhill, Boston - London 2001, p. 155.