Buddha Seated in the European Style

The Sanskrit inscription using Pallava script engraved near the feet of the Buddha were translated into 2 versions: the first one provided by Prof. George Cœdès saying that “Rishi Srismadhigupta’s merit-making” and the other version provided by Cha-em Kaeokhlai saying that “Phra Srismadhigupta is a virtuous person because of merit-making”. The translations make a hypothesis about the builder of the Buddha, namely, this Rishi. The form of the script can be dated to circa the 12^th Buddhist century, and the dating accords with the Buddha’s characteristics. Thus, it can be convincingly said that this Buddha Image was built during this period of time.

The Buddha seated in the European style is a bas-relief carved on the wall of the cave, and it was later gilded and painted in gold by contemporary people. The Buddha has a round face with a distinctive thin unibrow, protuberant eyes, a flattened nose, and protruding lips. These features are comparable with those of common Buddha Image in Dvaravati art. It’s noticeable that an aureole in the shape of an unopened lotus flower is above the cranial protuberance or Uṣṇīṣa.

The Buddha seated in the European style is an ideal archetype of Buddha Images in Dvaravati art. This demonstrates how stone carving changes caves into Buddhist monasteries which may relate to cave temples plentifully ound in India. Moreover, an inscription borne on the ankles of the Buddha mentions a Rishi called Srismadhigupta whch might be the bulider of this image.

Engraved between the ankles of the Buddha, the Sanskrit inscription using Pallava script were read and translated into 2 versions as follows:

1. Prof. George Cœdès read the inscription as “Bunya Vara Rishi --- Sri Smadhigupta” and translated it as “Rishi’s merit-making – Sri Smadhigupta”; and

ผาสุข อินทราวุธ, ทวารวดี การศึกษาเชิงวิเคราะห์จากหลักฐานทางโบราณคดี. กรุงเทพฯ : อักษรสมัย, 2542.

ศักดิ์ชัย สายสิงห์, ศิลปะทวารวดี วัฒนธรรมพุทธศาสนายุคแรกเริ่มในดินแดนไทย. กรุงเทพฯ : เมืองโบราณ, 2547.