Sarnath: Maitreya Bodhisattva

INDIA, Uttar Pradesh, Varanasi

The features on this statue such as the downcast eyes below heavy eyebrows, a broad nose, and very full lower lip, set in a rounded face are characteristic of other statues from Sarnath. Fronting the headdress, however, is an image of a meditating Buddha, which is usually exclusive to the Bodhisattvas of Mahayana Buddhism. The braided hair is piled behind the headdress and cascades down over the shoulders and forearms. Across the bare chest is the broad sacred thread that was being adapted to Buddhist figures from this time. The skirt is thin and the legs are visible beneath, showing the left leg stepping forward. A broken flower stalk is located on the right side, but it is impossible to identify its function in the overall design.