Buddha Shakyamuni Triumphing Over Mara and Calling the Earth to Witness His Awakening

ca. mid-9th century

Indian , Bihar, probably Kirkihar or vicinity

This sculpture from eastern India, where Buddhism originated, captures the moment of realization just before Bodhisattva Shakyamuni becomes a fully awakened being—a Buddha. While Shakyamuni meditates under the famous Bodhi Tree (represented by the leafy lobe at the top of his halo), the demon Mara tries to distract him. Shakyamuni triumphs and, with the simple gesture of touching his right hand to the ground, calls the earth goddess to witness the success of his spiritual journey. Images showing Shakyamuni enthroned and touching the earth represent more than just a historical event—they distill Buddhism’s ultimate goal of awakening all sentient beings.

Black stone

27 x 16 1/4 x 7 1/2 in. (68.58 x 41.28 x 19.05 cm)

Eugene Fuller Memorial Collection

39.35

Now on view at the Asian Art Museum

Resources

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, "Indian Buddhist Sculpture", February 3 - August 20, 1990, (02/03/1990 - 08/20/1990)

Museum of Art, University of Iowa, Iowa City, "Pala Art: Buddhist and Hindu Sculpture from Eastern India," 1969

The J. B. Speed Art Museum, Louisville, Ky., "Indian Buddhist Sculpture from American Collections," 1968

Portland, Oregon, Portland Art Museum, "Gift to a City: Masterworks from the Eugene Fuller Memorial Collection in the Seattle Art Museum", 1965, cat. # 75

San Francisco Museum of Art, "Art in Asia & the West," 1957

Seattle, Washington, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Boundless: Stories of Asian Art, Feb. 8, 2020 - ongoing.

Published ReferencesMuseum of Art, University of Iowa, Iowa City, "Pala Art: Buddhist and Hindu Sculpture from Eastern India," (1969)

Begley, W. E., in Speed Art Museum, Louisville, Kentucky, Cat., "Indian Buddhist Sculpture from American Collections," (1968)

"Gift to a City" exhibition catalogue. Portland, OR: Portland Art Museum, 1965, cat. no. 75

San Francisco Musuem of Art, "Art in Asia & the West," (1957), fig. p. 8

Bailey, B. A. de V. "Buddhas and Bodhisats," in Parnassus, vol. 12, no. 2 (Feb 1940), pp. 26-30, 51, illus. p. 27.

Foong, Ping, Xiaojin Wu, and Darielle Mason. "An Asian Art Museum Transformed." Orientations vol. 51, no. 3 (May/June 2020): pp. 54-55, reproduced fig. 12 (installation view).

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