File:Jagdispur Buddha Begley.jpg

English: Photograph of a statue of Buddha from Jagdispur, taken by Joseph David Beglar in 1872-73. Jagdispur is a small village located in the modern state of Bihar. It is situated close to two towns called Baragaon and Jafara and the village's ancient name was Janakpur. The site is described in the Bengal list, "Jagdispur...is celebrated for a large statue of Buddha...It is 15 feet high by 9½ feet broad. It represents the ascetic Buddha seated under the Bodhi tree and surrounded by agents of the tempter Mara. On side compartments there are reliefs representing other scenes from his life and in a space above his nirvana." At the time this photograph was taken, the statue was worshipped as the female Brahmanical deity Ambika Devi or Rukmini. This is interesting as the sculpture was originally carved to depict the male, Buddha. (BL) Schist, c. 10-11th century, height c. 12 feet / 3.7 metres. Metropolitan Museum blog, p. 16 with modern photo.