Sarnath: Standing Buddha

INDIA, Uttar Pradesh, Varanasi

The Buddha has the rounded face, lowered eyes and full lower lip typical of the Sarnath style. The figure’s right hand is in abhaya (fearlessness) mudra and displays the long even fingers with webbing that are characteristics of the Buddha, along with the three lines on the neck, elongated earlobes, and mounded usnisa. The left hand tightens the fold of the monastic robe about the arm. The material is completely smooth, its presence chiefly indicated by hem lines. The exception is the deep fold falling from the right arm and the very detailed ruffling of its fall from the left. Though most of the nimbus has gone, details on the remaining section show a variety of decorative bands. An inscription recording the donor and date in the Gupta period (circa 320–550) is engraved along the base.