Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v2.c75.s3.38

v2.c75.s3.38

and they are the functionary gods in the Buddhist pantheon. The Divine Buddhas are conceived as engaged in peaceful meditation and voluntarily restrain themselves from the act of creation, which task is assigned to their Bodhisattvas. In the Gandhara School of Sculpture there are innumerable Bodhisattva-images which fact clearly speaks of the fact that as the word ‘Bodhisattva’ in earlier times was synonymous with Saṇgha or the Holy Order, every Buddhist of the Mahāyāna Buddhism was entitled to be called a Bodhisattva. It is illustrated in the remains of the aforesaid sculpture. Buddhist philosopher-monks like Nāgārjuna, Aśvaghoṣa, Maitreyadeva, Āryadeva and the like were all represented as Bodhisattvas.