Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c5.22

c5.22

BUDDHA—The story of Buddha in stone and colour is woven out of a series of symbolical patterns, irrespective of the fact whether they would hold good for a historical person. His descent from the Tushita heaven, dream of Māyā seeing a white elephant, Buddha's oblique birth from the mother's side, his seven steps, the first bath, presentation of the four cups, miracle of fire and water, taming of the elephant Nalagiri, vision of Thousand Buddhas, *Dharma-Chakra*, visit of Indra, ascent to the Heaven of the Thirty-three Gods (*Trayastriṃśa-Deva-svarga*) and coming down by the three ladders of gold, silver and copper—these appearing as part of art are in reality symbols of the metaphysical pattern of Buddha's life, pointing to the concept of the Superman (*Mahāpuruṣa*).