Buddhapada

"Buddhapada" stone, 1st/2nd c C.E, Gandhara

The earliest representations of the Buddha were aniconic so his presence was often told by images of a parasol, the wheel, the tree of life, or footprints.(1) The Buddha could not be physically shown because he had passed into Nirvana therefore symbols like footprints would have represented his spiritual force. This symbolic vocabulary would have been universally understood by Buddhists.  The image above, found in Gandhara, are unique in that they were impressions rather than raised prints, and would have signified that the Buddha had actually, at one time, been there. Whereas a raised footprint, like the ones found in Amaravati, would have been a focus of devotion rather than a proclamation of the actual presence of the Buddha. (2)

Gandhara was a trade region that attracted a diverse group of people. It is believed that the movement of merchants and displaced tribes helped define a new set of cultural standards. It's possible that the imprints were a way for the Gandharan people to justify their particular interpretation of Buddhist philosophy. Who would argue if the Buddha had actually ministered to the people?(2)

Contained within a stylistically Gandhara crossed border are footprints of the Buddha covered in symbols. The lotus at the center of the feet are traditionally known as Dharmachakras, or wheels, but these are a Gandhara invention that have incorporated the lotus into the design. A Dharmachakra is the wheel of karma and is a shared symbol between the Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist traditions. The lotus symbolizes the Buddha's purity of spirit and also forms the focal point of the piece. The Triratna symbol on the heels incorporates the lotus into the design as well. The Triratna is a symbol of the Threefold Way which represents the Three Jewels of Buddhism (the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha or the enlightened one, the teachings, and the monastic order). On the toes are repeated Svastika symbols that were auspicious symbols commonly found in Buddhist and Jain art during this period. There are two Yakshis on either side of the prints both holding palm leaves. Females played a secondary role in the early Northern Buddhist tradition and their appearance is odd. The hand gestures being shown tell us that they are signifying respect and greeting once again, alerting us to the physical presence of the Buddha.(2)

    Notes

    1. "Buddha Footprint," Wikipedia, accessed October 9, 2020, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddha_footprint

    2.  John Eskenazi, "A 'Buddhapada' Stone , 1st/2nd c C.E, Gandhara," Columbia.edu, accessed October 9, 2020, http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00routesdata/0100_0199/kushanart/buddhapada/buddhapada.html.