Buddha statue returns to India after 14 centuries

Buddha statue returns to India after 14 centuries
10 Nov 2008, 1844 hrs IST, PTI

NEW DELHI: An over 1400-year-old statue of Buddha - the only one to be made while he was still alive - has returned to India after spending
centuries in its adopted country Japan.

Enshrined in the Zenkoji temple of Nogano city in Japan, the statue is part of an exhibition of about 160 Japanese artefacts at display at the National Museum here for three weeks.

Believed to have mythical powers, the 38cm long statue of Amitabh Buddha was taken to Japan in 552 AD from Vaishali in India, where a merchant made it as a tribute to Buddha following a miraculous curing of his daughter.

The statue, it it believed, has lent unchallenged powers to its patronisers throughout its history.

"The statue brings back to India a new sphere of growth in which Japan is to have a major role. Besides, it will also ensure that relations between Japan and India are spiritually surcharged," said Vikas Bakshi, Head of the Japan Desk of law firm Fox Mandal Little, who played a major role in bringing the lost heritage back to India.

This is believed to be the only Buddha statue to be made during the lifetime of Siddhartha, who was otherwise strictly against construction of statues, he added.

The Ikko Amida Triad was taken to Japan via Tibet with the advent of Buddhism in that country, during the reign of emperor Kenmei who introduced the religion there.

The Soga clan, which patronised it while adopting Buddhism, became very powerful overpowering the might of other clans, Bakshi said, adding "so was the case with Tokugawa warlords, who kept a number of emperors hostage in front of their might".

The three-week long exhibition, which has been themed on Buddhism, also features offerings to the Buddhist temple by the royal family including dolls, colourful robes, priceless mother of pearl artifacts among other things.