BODHISATTVA

PERIOD 1TH CENTURY AD

CHARASADDA, PAKISTAN

• In Sanskrit term Bodhisattva (bodhi = wisdom,

sattva = being) means "those seeking
enlightenment."

• Bodhisattvas are enlightened beings who are

destined to become buddhas but postpone that
final state in order to help humanity

• Above his head is a parasol, an ancient symbol of

royal status.

• Where many Buddha figures (except crowned

buddhas) have only a simple monk’s robe draped
over one shoulder, bodhisattvas are adorned with
flowing robes, bracelets, necklaces and threads
containing amulet boxes, elaborate hairdos, and
sometimes a moustache.
SALABHANJIKA
• A salabhanjika is the sculpture of a
woman, displaying stylized feminine
features, standing near a tree and
grasping a branch.

• These sculpted figures display complex

hairdos and an abundance of jewelry.

• The salabhanjika's female features, like

breasts and hips, are often
exaggerated.

• Concept stems from ancient symbolism

linking a chaste maiden with the sala
tree or the Ashoka tree through the
ritual called dohada, or the fertilization
of plants through contact with a young
woman.