Chapter 16: The Fasting Buddha at Lahore Museum

When you step into the Gandhara gallery of the Lahore Museum, one statue immediately captures your attention: a grey stone figure, ribs sharply outlined, veins visible, yet face calm and serene. This is the world-famous “Fasting Buddha” (also called “Fasting Siddhartha”).

Findspot: Sikri Site

The statue was unearthed at the Sikri site, near Jamal Garhi in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. In the late 19th century, British archaeologists uncovered Buddhist relics here, including the famous Sikri Stupa reliefs. In 1894, the Fasting Buddha entered the collection of the Lahore Museum.

Artistic Features: Realism Meets Serenity

• Material: Grey schist, a durable stone ideal for fine carving.
• Body: About 84 cm tall, the figure shows bones and veins with almost medical precision.
• Expression: Despite the emaciated body, the Buddha’s half-closed eyes convey inner peace.
• Drapery: Thin robe clings to the body, with folds reminiscent of Greco-Roman sculpture.

Spiritual Meaning: Beyond Pain, Toward the Middle Path

According to Buddhist tradition, Siddhartha practiced six years of extreme asceticism by the Nairanjana River before realizing that self-mortification could not bring enlightenment. The statue symbolizes this turning point: suffering is not the goal — wisdom lies in the Middle Path.

Why It Matters

A pinnacle of Gandharan realism. A vivid expression of the Buddhist doctrine of the Middle Path. A global icon of Buddhist art and cultural heritage.