What Was Buddhism Influence on the Arts and Literature

Nearly the Book

Buddhist literature is amazingly vast. It has been produced at all points of time in ancient, medieval and modern times in India and outside all over the earth Buddhist literature tin can be classified time-wise, linguistic communication-wise and country-wise. Unfortunately a large corporeality of ancient literature could non exist preserved and has been lost in oblivion. Some of it has been lost in original but some of it is available in translations and can be retrieved. It volition be a huge only highly pregnant task to restore the lost literature, but it should be attempted by globe scholarship every bit it would be valuable nugget to homo culture.

The bones Buddhist literature grew up on Indian soil in Pali and Sanskrit languages and has shaped the intellectual climate of India in aboriginal times. Before long it spread out to other Asian countries and reformed their psyche. In modern times Buddhist literature is beingness produced all over the world mostly in expository form. For the aboriginal literature at that place are several catalogues like that of Tanjore, Gilgit, Nanjio and some good bibliographic histories like that of Taranatha. A classified and comparative account of the entire Buddhist literature produced so far is a need of the times. It volition exist a gigantic work to be undertaken by a squad of scholars.

The Buddhist literature, is mainly concerned with biographies of SAkya Muni, the Buddha, his previous births and time to come incarnations, the Bodhisattvas and their noble bear, teachings of the Buddha, disciplinary codes for the Samgha, expositions of philosophical, epistemological, moral, religious and eschatological ideas, beliefs and practices.

About the Author

The Buddhist art occupies a very pregnant position in the totality of Indian fine art traditions. Though distinctive in ideas and thematic descriptions, it is in line with the general Indian fine art traditions. The Buddhist art went outside India along with the spread of Buddhism and it assumed newer forms in the countries of its locale. Information technology is a remarkable event in world history to witness Buddhist fine art in veriegated forms in the countries of Asia. For example, the Pagoda at Barabudur in Java, at Anuradhapuram in Ceylon and the Swayambhu Nath Temple in Nepal are artistic marvels which provide richness to world culture and civilisation.

Introduction

Art and artistic pursuits plant the very essence of a culture. A culture is known and evaluated in terms of its achievements in the fields of Arts apart from Science and Technology. Multiple arts and varied art-forms provide richness to a culture. Information technology gets refinement and composure through development of Arts which cater to finer sensitivities of the man existence.

Human being mind has an innate necessity to express its thoughts, feelings and emotions through actual gestures, languages and other symbolic modes of expression. When the highly subtle, complex and sublime thoughts, feelings and emotions cannot get exhibited through ordinary human language, human being mind resorts to arts of different diverseness. Human mind cannot remain confined to itself. On the one hand it impels actions, and on the other information technology gets expressed in literature and arts.

Indian civilization during its vast spatio-cultural canvass has evolved various types of arts and has achieved high degree of advancement. Indian fine art traditions accept very aboriginal and long history and accept been marvels in the earth culture and civilisation. Right from the Vedic times Indian listen has excelled in creative creativity.

In the total stock and storehouse of art treasures the contribution of Buddhism has been immense and intense. Buddhist artists have expressed through diverse media all the noble ideas and ideals, beliefs and practices, mythologies and religiosity enunciated and inculcated in the Buddhist fold. The pursuit of arts in Buddhist circles had received great heights when Buddhism stepped outside the Indian territory. Buddhist arts caused newer forms and newer dimensions in the countries it was spread over exterior India. Information technology got mingled with local morass and refined sensitivities of the people.

Buddhist literature is amazingly vast. Information technology has been produced at all points of time in ancient, medieval and modern times in Bharat and outside all over the world. Buddhist literature tin exist classified time-wise, language-wise and land-wise. Unfortunately a big corporeality of aboriginal literature could non be preserved and has been lost in ° oblivion. Some of it has been lost in original but some of it is bachelor in translations and tin be retrieved. It will be a huge but highly pregnant chore to restore the lost literature, merely it should exist attempted by earth scholarship as it would be valuable asset to man civilization.

The bones Buddhist literature grew up on Indian soil in Pali and Sanskrit languages and has shaped the intellectual climate of India in ancient times. Before long it spread out to other Asian countries and reformed their psyche. In modern times Buddhist literature is being produced all over the world mostly in expository form. For the ancient literature there are several catalogues similar that of Tanjore, Gilgit, Nanjio and some good bibliographic histories like that of Taranatha. A classified and comparative account of the entire Buddhist literature produced so far is a. demand of the times. Information technology volition be a gigantic work to exist undertaken by a team of scholars.

The Buddhist literature is mainly concerned with biographies of a.kya Muni, the Buddha, his previous births and hereafter incarnations, the Bodhisattvas and their noble conduct, teachings of the Buddha, disciplinary codes for the Samgha, expositions of philosophical, epistemological, moral, religious and eschatological ideas, beliefs and practices.

From 3rd century B.C. to 3rd century A.D. there was a phenomenal growth of Buddhist fine art and literature in India. Since Buddhism emphasised corporate life, many caityas, viharas, stupas, temples etc. were built. Along with them the arts of compages and painting were developed. A specific Buddhist art imagery came into existence which was known as Gandhara. Buddhist mode of tantra was besides developed and Buddhist arts and tantra were brought closer to the arts and tantra practised in other religious sects of India of those times.

In the stupas the highest objects of adoration were the Buddha, the Dharma and the Samgha known equally triratnas. The relics of the Buddha and other holy persons were preserved and worshipped. The relics were gdririka or corporeal, uddegikas or memorial and paribhogikas or manufactures used by Buddha and others. Hair relics, molar relics, bone relics etc. are still preserved in some of these stupas. Some of the stupas also known as pagodas in Burma, Java, Ceylon and Nepal are regal in size and shape and are masterpieces in architecture.

Forth with stupas there are sculptures and bronze which have keen aesthetic merit and iconographic value. The images of Buddha in elegant course and with radiant spiritual ecstasy, expressing wisdom and compassion are noteworthy. There are stone and metallic images which are of great artistic and spiritual worth.

At that place are quite a good number of paintings in caitya halls and in caves which reveal the subtlity of ideas and depth of feelings. Solemn dignity, poise and detachment, spiritual sublimity and religious piety are the hallmarks of classical Buddhist paintings in India. Thanka paintings of Ladakh are well-known for their brandish of vigour, grace and vitality. Likewise, Gandhara art tradition finds its expression on volume covers of Gilgit manuscripts. These paintings depict stories from Jatakas and Avadanakalpalata. Paintings at Ajanta, Ellora, Bagh etc. are world famous and they concenter both scholars and tourists from all over the world.

Apart from paintings there are terracotta figures, exquisite ivory carvings and sculptures which have fine display of artistic skills. Here we find finest figures of the Buddha and the Bodhisattvas in man form. Their appearance is not merely soothing but too bliss-giving. The Buddhist mythologies get full representation in Buddhist fine art.

Tantric influence of the Vajrayana variety is quite prominent in Buddhist art. All the tantric deities which are common to Buddhism and Hinduism have received a place of prominence in the Buddhist paintings. These paintings reveal the four Noble Truths, concepts of Prajfia or gunyata and karund with super-human qualities, feats of adventure and miraculous performances of Buddha and Bodhisattvas. Some of the paintings besides reveal awe and reverence for the Buddha and the Dharma. Buddha has been quite frequently represented as a Kalyana Mitra, a spiritual guide and liberator. He is also represented as Bhais ajya Guru who is ever willing to help the suffering humanity.

Apart from sculpture and painting the Buddhist art is also expressed through music, dance and drama which are important components of the mode of expression of religiosity. Music and dance in particular have tantric influence, overtone and bearing. They aid in heightening of religiosity and spiritual enlightenment. They are the outcome of intense forethought, contemplation and concentration. They elevate mind to a state of total freedom, calmness and quiet so as to receive the inflow of divine grace.

Another course of Buddhist art is the inscriptions of the Buddhist rulers who take depicted the rules for noble conduct and ideal behaviour. Some of these inscriptions are in Brahmi characters and some of them are in script which was evolved afterward. All inscriptions convey a bulletin of peace, universal well-being and orderly behaviour. They begin with obeisance to Lord Buddha, invoke his grace and enjoin people to follow the path shown past the Buddha.

**Contents and Sample Pages**