Buddharupas and the real Buddha

[Stephen K]

Was the historical Buddha's appearance identical to how the statues represent him? Did he really have a bump on his head and elongated ears? Just curious.

[clw_uk]

My knowledge about this is a bit patchy so I could be wrong but the bump on his head and the elongated ears are supposed to represent wisdom, knowledge etc

[Cittasanto]

The 'bump' as you are calling it, is an asetic knot, the Buddha is always represented with hair and if you have lived in the forest for some time without a way to cut your hair it is easier to keep it in the knot as is stll the custom with some ascetics in india with long hair, although it is probably used to show that he is a samana, as for his ears these reprsent his famiys class, Nobles being able to afford luxury would have very ornate jewlery which would exagerate the piercing after long periods of wearing, which is still seen today with some women who have worn large earings all their life in any culture.

[James the Giant]

I have read that all the little bumps or curls of hair all over his head were sculpted there by Greek architects, who came along in the tail of Alexander the Great. They were contracted by temples to make statues, and they put many curls on his head to make the Buddha more familiar to their Adriatic eyes.
There must be a site somewhere saying where all the different features came from. Anyone?
I know that the Fat Buddha or Laughing Buddha isn't Gautama Buddha though, that's Hotei, a monk from China.

[Ben]

Hi Stefan
Do a search on 'the 32 marks of a great man' at accesstoinsight or via google, and it should present you with a canonical reference which details the 32 physical distinguishing characteristics of a sammasambuddha. I think it is this list which is the basis of Buddharupa design.
All the best

Ben

[cooran]

Hello Ben,

Apart from one or two, the Buddha didn't have all of these marks on his physical body - when you read their description you will see that it would have been an "unusual" sight (to say the least!) if he had had the whole 32. It is what they represent that is important.

32 Marks of a Great Man
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/buddhism/32marks2.htm

There were no statues or paintings made for hundreds of years - the Buddha, instead was simply represented by symbols.

"This clip traces something of the history of physical representations of the Buddha at Bodh Gaya, beginning with the earliest representation, the Buddha’s footprints in stone. Although Buddhist scholars are divided over whether the Buddha actually prohibited images of himself being made, they agree that early Buddhist art usually used motifs associated with his life or symbols such as the empty throne, the umbrella, the Bodhi tree and the Wheel of Law. Some scholars see the footprints, or Buddhapada, at Mahabodhi as the exception to the rule. Buddhapada are usually associated with the Wheel of Law and at Mahabodhi the stone footprints are enclosed in a circle."
http://australianscreen.com.au/titles/c ... t-1/clip1/

metta
Chris

[Ben]

Hi Chris
yes, I know. That's why I said that I believed the vast majority of Buddharupas were based on the design in the list of 32 marks of a great man.
kind regards
ben

[Rui Sousa]

I have read that all the little bumps or curls of hair all over his head were sculpted there by Greek architects, who came along in the tail of Alexander the Great. They were contracted by temples to make statues, and they put many curls on his head to make the Buddha more familiar to their Adriatic eyes.
There must be a site somewhere saying where all the different features came from. Anyone?
I know that the Fat Buddha or Laughing Buddha isn't Gautama Buddha though, that's Hotei, a monk from China.

This page has information about the Greek that lived in what is today Afghanistan who became Buddhists, as far as I know the first Buddha Rupas were sculped there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Buddhist_art

[Individual]

The statues seem to be the result of Greek influence and didn't appear until centuries after Buddha's death. Also, what Ben and Cooran said is correct.

[cooran]

Also, what Ben and Cooran said is correct.

pssst! Individual .... I'm Chris in this town.

metta
C.

[Individual]

Also, what Ben and Cooran said is correct.

pssst! Individual .... I'm Chris in this town.

metta
C.

Oops!

By Cooran, I meant Chris!