Buddhist imagery: From symbolic to iconic

Seated Buddhas; Tin Thal, Cave 12, third floor; interior stupa with Buddha triad; Vishvakarma, Cave 10

One of the more curious aspects of this site is that it marks the evolution of Buddhism from stupa (symbolic) to statue (iconic) worship. Ellora displays an “almost overwhelming exuberance of figural representation”, say the authors, “Curiously, a significant proportion of these images were not “supposed” to be there — according to scholarly presumption — but were added in an ad hoc manner over time.” This is also seen at Cave 10, where an expansive chaitya hall is dominated by a monolithic rock-cut stupa in the center of the hall’s apse, upon which has been carved a large Buddha triad beneath an archway comprising flying devotees.