Symposia & Conferences
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Item Development and Spread of Buddhist Art and Traditions in South East Asia(Centre for Asian Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2017) Kumar, V.Over the last several decades, Buddhist studies have grown into a complex field, with historical, philosophical, linguistic and socio-cultural aspects which are being studied independently as well as in comparative light. New materials came to light in the last century which has created the need for sustained research in this important chapter of human history and civilization. Buddhism from its inception is a religion that has captured the enthusiasm of the rich and the poor alike. It was a religion that preached a way out of suffering in a simple and direct manner which could be understood by the common man. Unlike Brahmanism that had become too recondite and scholarly for the masses to understand, Buddhism fulfilled the spiritual needs of the people. Every person could work their way towards the enlightenment. Its notions of social equality earned it much success. The establishment of the Sangha gave it strength. As it was a proselytizing religion, it spread quickly and flourished for centuries. By the beginning of the first millennium, Buddhism had been firmly established in the areas of Thailand, Burma, Java and Cambodia. Buddhism develops art and architecture as visual aids for propagation of religious ideas in South East Asia. Buddhist stylistic arts have created a great impact on the religious and secular life of the people in those related areas for more than two millennia and thus Buddhism has created a great current of art in South East Asia. Under this artistic trend, many valuable art works were created and they gave rise to a special social phenomenon. Thus, the present paper focuses on the historicity of Buddhist arts tradition in South East Asia, influence and impact of Indian Buddhist art on Southeast Asian art and the dimensions of Buddhist art in South East Asian culture. This paper also compares the Buddhist art in the homeland of Buddhism with those in other Buddhist countries in South East Asia and examines the dissemination of Buddhism through art and Architecture.Item Symbolism of Elephants in Buddhist Art and Religion(Centre for Asian Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Kejriwal, M.“It is better to live alone, there is no companionship with a fool; let a man walk alone, let him commit no sin (let him do) with few wishes, like an elephant in the forest.” - Buddha 330, Dhammapada Through theorising Buddhist teachings and the parable of elephants, one gets to know the value of elephants from a Buddhist perspective. In Asian culture, living symbols are a significant aspect of religion; the image of an elephant symbolizes wisdom and strength. The Asian elephants are admired for their memory power and intelligence. Symbols are not just a cultural creation but are the manifestation of mental creation, an inner vision, experienced at a much deeper level by Buddhists. In a Buddhist context symbolism represents certain aspects of Buddha dharma through Buddhist art. The Buddhists relate the symbolism to the karmic activity that manifests in the physical world. Elephants in Buddhism are regarded as one of the ratna of the seven royal ratna of Chakravartin King. These ratnas were used as symbols and motifs in the earliest Buddhist art of Amaravati and Nagarjunikonda stupas. Elephants in Buddhist art and religion if understood from the perspective of symbolism, carry intellectual intent apart from their socio-cultural, psychological and aesthetical aspects. This paper will be an attempt to explore the representation of elephants in Buddhist art and religion from the perspective of symbolism.