Delving into "Tree and Serpent Show": Rediscovering Early Buddhist Art at The MET

Art has long been a conduit for expressing spirituality, culture, and history. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, renowned for its diverse exhibitions, recently hosted 'Tree and Serpent: Early Buddhist Art in India.' This exhibition acted as a gateway to ancient India, revealing the origins of Buddhist art and its deep ties to spirituality, relics, and cultural evolution. This showcase highlighted artistic evolution and depicted the spiritual journey that defined early Buddhism. “Having been a Hindu, I found the commonalities between Hinduism and Buddhism showcased here enlightening, reinforcing my belief in the universality of all religions.”

Origins of Buddhist Artistry: Unveiling Ancient India's Spiritual Landscape

Buddhism burgeoned as a spiritual upheaval, nurturing ethical principles and philosophical insights that reshaped the spiritual ethos of the land. Central to this seismic shift in spirituality were stupas, architectural marvels that stood as sacred edifices, and profound embodiments of Buddhist ideology.

Who was Prince Siddhartha Gautama?

Prince Siddhartha Gautama founded Buddhism in ancient India around 563 BCE. He was a prince from the Shakya clan in Lumbini (present-day Nepal). His life changed dramatically upon encountering the realities of human suffering—an old person, a sick person, and a corpse—prompting him to seek answers to the nature of existence.

Renouncing his princely life, Siddhartha embarked on a spiritual quest for truth and enlightenment. After years of meditation and ascetic practices, he attained enlightenment at Bodhgaya under a bodhi tree, becoming the Buddha, which means "the awakened one."

The Buddha's teachings emphasized mindfulness, compassion, and the impermanent nature of existence. Stupas hold significant cultural, architectural, and spiritual importance in Buddhism. They are dome-shaped structures that serve as sacred monuments, primarily containing relics associated with the Buddha or revered Buddhist monks. His teachings spread widely across Asia and have influenced countless individuals seeking inner peace and enlightenment. 

Stupas: Architectural Epitomes of Spiritual Narratives

At the heart of the "Tree and Serpent Show" exhibition lay the profound significance of stupas—monumental structures that epitomized early Buddhist artistry. These architectural marvels weren't merely repositories for relics; they were visual narratives of Buddhism's essence.

The stupa, as a sacred burial site, encompasses three key elements, regardless of its location or era:

1. A hemispherical mound (anda): This dome-shaped structure symbolizes the covering of the Buddha's remains, holding relics deep within its core. Over time, it has gained symbolic significance as the divine mountain at the universe's center

2. A square railing (harmika): Inspired by the boundary railing around the mound, signifying its sacredness as a burial site.

3. A central pillar supporting triple-umbrella forms (chattra): Derived from umbrellas protecting the mound, this pillar represents the axis mundi, connecting heaven and humanity. The three umbrella-like disks symbolize the three Jewels of Buddhism—Buddha, dharma (an aspect of truth or reality), and sangha(a community of Buddhist practitioners).

4. Enclosure wall with adorned gateways (toranas) at cardinal directions: Surrounding the structure, the wall is marked with three horizontal stone bars and gateways symbolizing entry points to the sacred space.

5. Circular terrace (medhi): Elevated platform surrounding the mound, likely used for ceremonial circumambulation. Devotees circumambulated them, contemplating the Buddha's teachings and undertaking a symbolic journey toward enlightenment.

Mystique of Buddha's Relics: Echoes of Spiritual Essence 

Relics, highly revered in Buddhism, are sacred objects associated with the Buddha or enlightened beings. These remnants can be bodily remains like ashes or personal items. They hold immense spiritual significance and are enshrined within stupas—monumental structures built to honor and preserve them. “In my view, these relics are similar to the bread and wine used in Christian rituals, symbolizing profound spiritual meanings across different faiths.”

Central to Buddhist devotion, relics symbolize the Buddha's spiritual energy and teachings. They're venerated for their spiritual power, believed to radiate blessings and aid in meditation. These objects are preserved in reliquaries and revered through rituals, serving as reminders of the path to enlightenment.

A pinnacle moment within the exhibit was the revelation of relics discovered at the Piprahwa Great Stupa. Described as resembling jasmine buds, washed pearls, and particles of gold, these relics bore an otherworldly mystique. The attribution of these relics to the Buddha's corporeal remains marked a monumental historical juncture, emphasizing the spiritual potency inherent in these ancient artifacts.

Nature's Embrace: Assimilating Worship into Art 

Pre-Buddhist India teemed with nature deities and local divinities. This exhibition spotlighted the seamless integration of these nature-centric cults into early Buddhist practices. Symbols depicting trees, serpents, lotus flowers, and natural elements became integral to Buddhist narratives, forging a harmonious relationship between spirituality and the natural world.

(Image on the left) This enclosure railing pillar, from a monumental stupa some 135 feet in diameter, dates to the very beginning of the Buddhist figurative sculptural tradition in the Deccan. Its decoration is an inventory of early Buddhist imagery—the lotus, snake, tree, empty throne, and worshippers—and bears stylistic links to the early rock-cut caves of the Western Ghats mountain range. 

These symbols transcended mere decorative elements; they became integral motifs embedded with profound spiritual meanings.

1. Trees held immense significance in early Buddhist artistry. The bodhi tree, under which the Buddha attained enlightenment, became a powerful symbol of awakening and spiritual realization. Depictions of the Buddha meditating under this sacred tree formed a recurring motif in Buddhist art, signifying the moment of enlightenment and the path to liberation.

2. Serpents, often linked to pre-Buddhist nature worship as protective creatures, transitioned into Buddhist symbolism. The serpent's coiled form represented cycles of life, death, and rebirth—a concept deeply intertwined with Buddhist teachings on impermanence and the cycle of samsara.

3. Lotus flowers, rooted in Hindu and pre-Buddhist beliefs, were seamlessly integrated into Buddhist art as symbols of purity, enlightenment, and spiritual growth. The lotus's ability to blossom immaculately from murky waters symbolized the emergence of spiritual enlightenment from the depths of worldly existence.

4. Empty throne: Early Buddhist art often symbolized the Buddha's absence through evocative representations. Footprints, an empty throne beneath a tree, and other nonfigurative signs were poignant reminders of the Buddha's teachings and life events. These symbols transcended visual representation, inviting contemplation and forging deep spiritual connections. The objects of veneration—the Buddha’s empty throne and his footprints, marked with the Dharma wheel—are rendered simply, ensuring a clarity of message: the Buddha is present.

My Take on “Budhha’s Absence: Symbolism in Buddhist Art”

The depiction of the Buddha's absence, mainly through the symbol of the empty throne, is a powerful artistic and philosophical statement. It democratizes the pursuit of enlightenment, emphasizing that it is a state accessible to all willing to embark on a spiritual journey guided by the principles of Buddhism. This concept resonates deeply with the core tenets of Buddhism, which advocate for compassion, mindfulness, and the pursuit of wisdom as universal ideals.

Conclusion: Nurturing an Ancient Cultural Resonance

 "Tree and Serpent Show" transcended exhibition boundaries; it was an odyssey into ancient India's cultural, spiritual, and artistic mosaic. Through relics, symbolic representations, and cultural integration, the exhibition unraveled the evolution of early Buddhist art and highlighted the eternal resonance of spirituality within ancient artistic expressions, paying homage to the profound legacy of early Buddhist teachings.