The Emergence and Spread of the Buddhist Tārā Cult in India between 7th Century CE and 11th Century CE with Special Reference to the Sirpur Tārā Bronzes

Saurabh Singh

doi:10.5334/aa.218

Abstract

Sirpur (Lat. 21° 25’N, Long. 82° 11’E) is a small village on the right bank of Mahanadi in the Mahasamund District of Chhattisgarh. It is an important archaeological site and archaeological excavations at Sirpur revealed that it was an important centre of Mahayana Buddhism in Central India. Numerous bronze images of the Buddha and Buddhist deities such as Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, Tara etc. were found from Sirpur. In this paper, an attempt has been given to discuss the sculptural and iconographic bronze images of Tara from Sirpur. A comparative study of these Tara images with the Tara bronze images found in other Buddhist sites of India has been carried out. The article will highlight the iconographic features of the Buddhist goddess Tārā and her importance in the contemporary religious settings during the 5<sup>th</sup>–6<sup>th</sup> centuries CE.

Highlights

Singh Ancient AsiaIn the Vajrayāna Buddhist pantheon, several Buddhist deities were being worshipped
The establishment of a female deity and its iconography is found in Sādhanamālā and Niṣpannayogāvalī, the important Buddhist texts associated with the Buddhist iconography (Misra 1992: 96–97)
She was recognised as the śakti of Avalokiteśvara. She was the śakti of the Dhyani Buddha, Amoghasiddhi. She was worshipped through her two distinct forms, viz. Śveta Tārā and Nīla (Blue) Tārā in the 6th–7th century CE

Summary

Introduction

Singh Ancient AsiaIn the Vajrayāna Buddhist pantheon, several Buddhist deities were being worshipped. Oval halo with flat and beaded mouldings, ornate bead, long leaves, four-petaled flower and conch shell-type flames. Oval halo with flat and broken beaded mouldings, ornate bead and long leaves, four-petaled flower and tongues of flames. Oval halo with flat and broken beaded mouldings, ornate bead, long leaves, four-petaled flower and conch shell-type flames.

Results

Conclusion