Chapter 25: Under the Bodhi Tree｜The Night of Enlightenment

After experiencing both luxury and severe austerity, Prince Siddhartha arrived at Bodh Gaya, where he sat beneath the Bodhi tree. He made a vow:

“Until enlightenment is attained, even if this body withers away, I shall not rise from this seat.”

Gandharan Depictions

In Gandharan art, the Night of Enlightenment is visualized with several recurring motifs:

• The Bodhi tree — Carved branches and foliage above the Buddha mark the sacred site.
• Mara’s assault — Panels often show the Buddha surrounded by Mara’s army: warriors with weapons, grotesque demons, and seductive figures, symbolizing desire and fear.
• The Buddha’s serene posture — He sits cross-legged on a throne or mat, making the earth-touching gesture (bhumisparsa mudrā), calling the earth to witness.
• The Earth Goddess — In some reliefs, the Earth Goddess rises from the ground, affirming the Buddha’s victory over illusion.

Artistic Style

Gandharan sculptors employed Hellenistic techniques: Mara’s warriors are full of motion and musculature, while the Buddha remains calm and immovable. The sharp contrast between turbulence and serenity makes enlightenment a visible, dramatic event.

The Turning Point

On this night, Siddhartha overcame Mara and attained supreme awakening, becoming the Buddha, the Enlightened One.

This is the central moment in Buddhist visual narrative. Gandharan art does not merely tell a story; it stages a cosmic drama: chaos versus calm, illusion versus truth, the world’s noise against the silence of awakening.