4.9.1. Stories in stone

You may have seen wandering storytellers carrying scrolls (charanachitras) of cloth or paper with pictures on them and pointing to the pictures as they tell the story.

Look at Figure 4.13. At first sight, the sculpture seems to depict a rural scene, with thatched huts and trees. However, art historians who have carefully studied the sculpture at Sanchi identify it as a scene from the Vessantara Jataka. This is a story about a generous prince who gave away everything to a Brahmana, and went to live in the forest with his wife and children. As you can see in this case, historians often try to understand the meaning of sculpture by comparing it with textual evidence.

This chunk discusses how sculptures can tell stories, similar to how storytellers convey tales using illustrated scrolls. In the specific case of a sculpture at Sanchi, what appears at first to be a simple rural scene is actually a representation of a story from the 'Vessantara Jataka'. The Vessantara Jataka tells the tale of a prince who demonstrates extreme generosity by giving everything away to a Brahmana (a figure in Hindu tradition) and choosing a life of hardship in the forest with his family. To properly understand such sculptures, art historians analyze related texts to interpret the intentions and narratives encoded within the artwork. This practice of connecting textual and visual art forms helps us appreciate the depth of historical storytelling through sculpture.

Imagine a children's book that combines illustrations with a narrative. Just as children might first see a vibrant picture and guess the story before reading the text, adults viewing sculptures can initially misinterpret their meaning without background knowledge. Art historians are like detectives; they gather clues from historical texts to piece together the true stories depicted in these ancient sculptures.

Art historians had to acquire familiarity with hagiographies of the Buddha in order to understand Buddhist sculpture. According to hagiographies, the Buddha attained enlightenment while meditating under a tree. Many early sculptors did not show the Buddha in human form – instead, they showed his presence through symbols. The empty seat was meant to indicate the meditation of the Buddha, and the stupa was meant to represent the mahaparinibbana.

In this chunk, we learn about the significance of symbols in Buddhist sculpture. Hagiographies—texts that recount the life and teachings of the Buddha—inform how artists represented the Buddha's presence. Rather than depicting the Buddha's human form, early sculptures often used symbolic representations. For example, an empty seat symbolizes the Buddha's meditation, while stupas are symbols of his ultimate enlightenment and death (mahaparinibbana). Understanding these symbols requires knowledge of the beliefs and traditions of Buddhism, showing how representations carry deeper meanings beyond surface appearances.

Consider how in some cultures, certain colors are associated with specific meanings; for instance, white often symbolizes purity. Similarly, in art, symbols function in a comparable way. Just like a heart symbol on a greeting card universally signifies love, empty seats and stupas hold significant profound meaning in Buddhist art, conveying key aspects of the Buddha's teachings and experiences.

Other sculptures at Sanchi were perhaps not directly inspired by Buddhist ideas. These include beautiful women swinging from the edge of the gateway, holding onto a tree. Initially, scholars were a bit intrigued about this image, which seemed to have little to do with renunciation. However, after examining other literary traditions, they realised that it could be a representation of what is described in Sanskrit as a shalabhanjika. According to popular belief, this was a woman whose touch caused trees to flower and bear fruit. It is likely that this was regarded as an auspicious symbol and integrated into the decoration of the stupa.

Here we discuss how sculptures in Sanchi not only express Buddhist themes but also integrate elements from popular and indigenous traditions. For example, the depiction of women swinging and holding onto trees initially appeared unrelated to Buddhist teachings of renunciation. However, by studying broader cultural contexts and literature, scholars suggested that this imagery represents a shalabhanjika—a mythical figure believed to bring fertility to nature. This shows that art often blends various beliefs, illustrating the interconnectedness of different cultural narratives and practices.

Think of a community festival that incorporates various local traditions, music, and dance, reflecting the mix of cultures in that community. Just as a festival celebrates the unique characteristics of multiple cultural influences, the sculptures at Sanchi reflect a fusion of Buddhist and local beliefs, demonstrating how art evolves through shared cultural experiences.

There are other images as well. For instance, some of the finest depictions of animals are found there. These animals include elephants, horses, monkeys, and cattle. While the Jatakas contain several animal stories that are depicted at Sanchi, it is likely that many of these animals were carved to create lively scenes to draw viewers. Also, animals were often used as symbols of human attributes. Elephants, for example, were depicted to signify strength and wisdom.

This chunk highlights the presence and importance of animal imagery in Sanchi's sculptures. Sculptors carefully depicted various animals, such as elephants and horses, each carrying symbolic meanings. For example, elephants often represent strength and wisdom, qualities that are highly valued in many cultures. These animals not only enhanced the visual appeal of the sculptures but also connected with narratives found in the Jataka tales, which often feature animal protagonists who symbolize human traits and moral lessons.

Consider how certain sports mascots are chosen based on the traits they embody—like a lion representing courage or a horse exhibiting speed. Much like these mascots, the animals depicted in Sanchi's sculptures serve specific symbolic purposes, reminding viewers of the character and virtues culture held dear.

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