Sacred Strokes of Indian Artform Celebrating Buddha Purnima

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By Anushka Roy Bardhan

  • India
  • Art
  • Painting

    • Table of Content

    Long before palaces turned into monasteries and warriors into seekers, a prince walked barefoot into the forest not to conquer the world, but to understand it. That prince was Siddhartha. And the full moon of Buddha Purnima marks not one, but three pivotal moments of his journey: his birth, his enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, and finally, his liberation: nirvana.
    But how do you hold silence in your hands? How do you paint stillness? Indian artists have asked this question for centuries and answered not with words, but narrating his life on a canvas. Let us deep dive more about this day when a saviour was born and discover how centuries of art have mirrored his path from royalty to renunciation, from silence to salvation.

    Buddha, Kerala Mural Painting by V.M Jijulal

    From Questions to Quest: The Making of the Buddha

    Buddha’s journey from Siddhartha to Shakyamuni is a path paved with deep silence, compassion, and profound renunciation. It’s said that when he first saw an old man, a sick man, and a corpse, something stirred in him a question that even royalty couldn’t answer: “Is there a life beyond suffering?” He walked away from palaces and privilege, and walked towards truth. Over centuries, this truth found its way into temples, manuscripts, and more intimately into art.

    How Ancient Art Depicted the Buddha

    In early Indian art, the Buddha wasn’t shown in human form, but in iconographic forms - as a wheel, a footprint, a tree, or an empty throne inviting the viewer to imagine presence in absence. But soon, the aniconic gave way to the iconic. Artists began sculpting his serenity, painting his posture, capturing the stillness of a soul that had transcended turmoil.

    Every mudra became a message:

    • Dhyan: The meditative hand posture reminds us of inner stillness
    • Abhaya: The fear-not gesture echoes courage. 
    • Bhumisparsha: When he called the Earth to witness his victory over Mara, it remains one of the most powerful moments in spiritual iconography.

    Beyond Words: The Mudras of Buddha


    At MeMeraki, Buddha is more than an image, he is a presence. Their artists blend technique with tradition, echoing generations of sacred expression.

    In Madhubani art, he stands surrounded by floral motifs, his form defined by bold lines and symmetry, echoing nature’s rhythm and cosmic balance.

    Buddha in Madhubani by Ambika Devi

    Thangka paintings, intricate and colourful, offer a Himalayan version of Buddha, where each element, from clouds to colour, is chosen with meditative intention. These scrolls aren’t merely decorative, they’re devotional.

    Buddha with Disciples: Thangka Painting by Krishna Tashi Palmo

     

    In the humble textures of Sikki Grass Art, his image is woven in gold and grain, portraying the idea that divinity lives in everyday simplicity.

    Buddha in Sikki Grass work by Suraj Kumar Sahu

    And in Pattachitra, ancient narratives unfold of Buddha’s renunciation, his dialogues with kings and courtesans, his teachings beneath the Bodhi tree, all told through fine lines and storytelling finesse.

    Buddha: Pattachitra painting by Gitanjali Das

    MeMeraki: A Journey of Revival

    More than a brand, MeMeraki is a movement. A promise to preserve the soul of Indian art while breathing new life into it. They collaborate with artisans across India to make this heritage not just collectible but connective. Especially on Buddha Purnima, their curated collections offer more than décor; they offer a doorway into reflection.

    Because Some Stories Are Meant to Be Seen

    It is said that when a grieving mother brought her dead child to Buddha, asking him to revive her son, he asked her to bring mustard seeds from a home untouched by death. She returned empty-handed. And found peace. Such is the power of his teaching: simple, visual, profound. And perhaps that is why, even today, we turn to art, not just to admire but to understand. This Buddha Purnima, let the art speak. Let the silence teach. Explore MeMeraki’s collection. Let your walls speak wisdom.

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