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Sitting Buddha Image at Ananda

Keywords : Bagan, Kyanzittha, Ananda

Site common nameAnanda
Type of artworkSculpture
Village-
Province/CityBagan
StateMandalay
CountryMyanmar
Geographic Coordinates
Decimal degree		Lat : 21.165
Long : 94.865278

History of productionKing Kyanzittha ordered to constructed this temple under the advises of monks who arrived from India and narrated him about the mythical cave Nandamula of Gandhamadana mountain. The temple was therefore conceived as the imitation of this mythical cave. Buddha images enshrined at the temple are possible to be carved at the same time of the temple construction.
ArtThe sitting Buddha image here bears the normal character of the sitting Buddha in Pagan art. The robe is always in one-shoulder-covered transparent robe with the short end of the robe resting at the left shoulder, identity of Pala affiliation. The Maravijaya gesture is the most popular gesture for sitting Buddha both in Pala and Pagan art, as so the lotus cushion
PeriodHistorical Period
Art periodPagan
Age10th-13th century A.D.
ReligionBuddhism
SectTheravada
Religion and beliefThese Buddha images seem to be part of the sculptural series narrating the story of the Buddha’s life enshrining inside both the circumambulatory path and the Mandapa. The Buddha’s life depiction at Ananda is considered to be one of the most perfect narrations in Pagan art.
Related artworkThe Maravijaya gesture suggests that this image denotes the story of the enlightenment of the Master.

Type of LicenseAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (CC BY-NC-ND)
RightsPrincess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre
Date of record creation2015-02-00
Record creatorChedha Tingsanchali