The adoration of the Empty Throne

myminifactory

Before the human image of the Buddha emerged in the 1st century AD, he was represented through symbolic forms, like this empty throne. The tradition persisted for two more centuries alongside the creation of human forms. This image plays on the idea that the Buddha is a spiritual ruler who governs the entire world, or 'chakravartin'. The disc resting on the seat likely represents the sun, a symbol of the Buddha's radiance. This red sandstone carving probably once formed part of a temple or shrine in North India. It depicts the adoration of the empty throne, accompanied by a Buddhist emblem. The emblem can be interpreted as a throne cushion, a discarded turban headdress, or a 'dharmachakra' ('wheel of law') symbol. Early Buddhist artists were hesitant to represent the Buddha in human form. They preferred to indicate his presence through symbolic representations instead. This relief indicates the Buddha's presence through an empty throne, flanked by two attendants bearing fly-whisks, emblems of a world sovereign (‘cakravartin’), and attended by winged-lion capitals.