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{{short description|Three-dimensional oval at the top of the head of the Buddha}}
{{short description|Three-dimensional oval at the top of the head of the Buddha}}
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{{ Infobox Buddhist term
⚫
| title = ''Ushnisha''
⚫
| en =ushnisha
| pi =
⚫
| sa = uṣṇīṣa
| bn =
| my =
⚫
| zh = 肉髻
⚫
| zh-Latn =
| ja = 肉髻(にくけい)
⚫
| ja-Latn =
| km =
⚫
| ko = 육계(肉髻)
⚫
| ko-Latn =
| mnw =
⚫
| mnw-Latn =
| shn =
⚫
| shn-Latn =
| si =
| si-Latn =
| ta =
| th =
| th-Latn =
| bo =
| bo-Latn =
| vi =
| id =
}}
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[[Image:Labit - Buddah méditant - Hadda Afghanistan - Art gréco-bouddhique D 69 2.jpg|thumb|250px|Head of the Buddha, crowned by the ushnisha, 3rd century, [[Hadda, Afghanistan|Hadda]], [[Afghanistan]].]]
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{{Buddhism}}
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The '''ushnisha''' ({{Lang-sa|उष्णीष}}, [[IAST]]: {{IAST|uṣṇīṣa}}) is a three-dimensional oval at the top of the head of the Buddha.


{{context|date=February 2024}}
⚫
==Description==

⚫
The Ushnisha is the thirty-second of the 32 major marks of the Buddha. The thirty-second of these is that the Buddha has a fleshy or cranial protuberance at the top of his head. Later sets elaborate that this is covered with hairs that curl in the direction of the sun.
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{{infobox Buddhist term
| bn = উষ্ণীষ
⚫
| bn-Latn = ushnish
⚫
| en = ushnisha
⚫
| en-Latn = ushnisha
| ja = 肉髻
⚫
| ja-Latn = nikukei
⚫
| ko = 육계
⚫
| ko-Latn = yukgye
| sa = उष्णीष
⚫
| sa-Latn = uṣṇīṣa
⚫
| title = ''Ushnisha''
⚫
| zh = 肉髻
⚫
| zh-Latn = ròu jì
⚫
}}{{Buddhism}}

⚫
The '''ushnisha''' ({{Langx|sa|उष्णीष|translit=uṣṇīṣa}}) is a [[spheroid|three-dimensional oval]] on top of the head. In [[Pali]] scriptures, it is the crown of Buddha, the symbol of his [[Enlightenment in Buddhism|Enlightenment]] and Enthronement.

⚫
== Description ==

⚫
[[file:labit - Buddah méditant - Hadda Afghanistan - Art gréco-bouddhique D 69 2.jpg|thumb|250px|Head of the Buddha, crowned by the ushnisha, 3rd century, [[Hadda, Afghanistan|Hadda]], [[Afghanistan]]]]

⚫
The Ushnisha is the thirty-second of the 32 major marks of the Buddha. The thirty-second of these is that the Buddha has a fleshy or cranial protuberance at the top of his head. Later sets elaborate that this is covered with hairs that curl in the direction of the sun.


Later on a second definition of Ushnisha was added, which was a flame that ascends from the middle of this protuberance.
Later on a second definition of Ushnisha was added, which was a flame that ascends from the middle of this protuberance.


==Representation==
== Representation ==

⚫
The first representations of the Buddha in the 1st century CE in the [[Greco-Buddhist art]] of [[Gandhara]] also represent him with a topknot, rather than just a cranial knob. It is thought that the interpretation of the ushnisha as a supernatural cranial protuberance happened at a later date, as the representation of the topknot became more symbolic and its original meaning was lost.<ref>Mario Bussagli, ''L'art du Gandhara''</ref>
[[file:bronze Flame, 14th-15th Cent., Ramkhamhaeng Museum, Sukhothai (32705746377).jpg|thumb|250px|Flame Ushnisha, 14–15 century, [[Sukhothai (city)|Sukhothai]], [[Thailand]]]]

⚫
The first representations of the Buddha in the 1st century CE in the art of [[Gandhara]] also represent him with a topknot, rather than just a cranial knob. It is thought that the interpretation of the ushnisha as a supernatural cranial protuberance happened at a later date, as the representation of the topknot became more symbolic and its original meaning was lost.<ref>Mario Bussagli, ''L'art du Gandhara''</ref>


== Origins ==
== Origins ==
While the ushnisha is an important feature of Buddha statues and images, there is no evidence that Buddha had a topknot on his head. Ancient books clearly state that Buddha had a shaven head. One event mentioned in the texts is where a hunter while out on a hunt encounters Gautama Buddha (prince of Lumbini) in a different attire than that a prince should had. The hunter is mentioned as giving up hunting for the day, after seeing the shaven man in the middle of the jungle, considering it to be a bad omen.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.buddha-heads.com/buddha-head-statues/the-ushnisha|title=Origin of Ushnisha}}</ref>


Portrayal of [[The Buddha|Śākyamuni Buddha]] with an ushnisha has varied throughout history and depended on which school is doing the portrayal. The Sri Lankan [[Tamrashatiya]] school, which would later give rise to [[Theravada]], portrayed him as bald and having an ushnisha extending into the sky and beyond the possibility of measurement.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Yeshe Dorje |first1=Longchen |last2=Rinpoche |first2=Kangyur |last3=Lingpa |first3=Jigme |title=Treasury of Precious Qualities: Book Two Vajrayana and the Great Perfection |page=287 |publisher=Shambhala Publishing |year=2020 |isbn=9781611800999}}</ref> The [[Gandharan Buddhism|Gandharan]] school of Buddhism, however, never portrayed Śākyamuni with the protuberance on the skull, but with the long wavy hair drawn up on the top of the head in a cluster of curls or in a knot concealing the ushnisha.<ref>{{cite book |last=Getty |first=Alice |title=The Gods of Northern Buddhism: Their History, Iconography, and Progressive Evolution Through the Northern Buddhist Countries |page=179 |publisher= Clarendon Press |year=1914 |isbn=9780804811293}}</ref>
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===The Boddhisattva-Cakravartin in Early Buddhism===


⚫
=== The Boddhisattva-Cakravartin in Early Buddhism ===
⚫
In [[Early Buddhism]], the {{IAST|''uṣṇīṣa''}} was represented differently. The ''[[Mahāvastu]]'' (1.259f) and the ''[[Divyavadana|Divyāvadāna]]'', as well as the [[Theravada|Theravadin]] ''[[Milinda Panha|Milindapañha]]'', describe the marks of the [[chakravartin|cakravartin]], an idealised world-ruler: {{IAST|''uṣṇīṣa''}} or ''[[patka]]'' [[turban]], ''[[chhatra]]'' parasol, "horn jewel" or ''[[vajra]]'', [[whisk]] and [[sandal]]s. These were the marks of the [[kshatriya]].<ref name=Falk>Falk, Harry, "Small-Scale Buddhism" in {{cite book|editor1-last=Voegeli|editor1-first=François|editor2-last=Eltschinger|editor2-first=Vincent|editor3-last=Candotti|editor3-first=Maria Piera|editor4-last=Diaconescu|editor4-first=Bogdan|editor5-last=Kulkarni|editor5-first=Malhar|title=Devadattīyam : Johannes Bronkhorst felicitation volume|date=2012|publisher=Peter Lang|location=Bern|isbn=9783034306829}}, p. 495</ref>

⚫
In [[Early Buddhist schools|Early Buddhism]], the {{IAST|''uṣṇīṣa''}} was represented differently. The ''[[Mahāvastu]]'' (1.259f) and the ''[[Divyavadana|Divyāvadāna]]'', as well as the Theravadin ''[[Milinda Panha|Milindapañha]]'', describe the marks of the [[chakravartin|cakravartin]], an idealised world-ruler: {{IAST|''uṣṇīṣa''}} or ''[[patka]]'' [[turban]], ''[[chhatra]]'' parasol, "horn jewel" or ''[[vajra]]'', [[whisk]] and [[sandal]]s. These were the marks of the [[kshatriya]].<ref name=Falk>Falk, Harry, "Small-Scale Buddhism" in {{cite book|editor1-last=Voegeli|editor1-first=François|editor2-last=Eltschinger|editor2-first=Vincent|editor3-last=Candotti|editor3-first=Maria Piera|editor4-last=Diaconescu|editor4-first=Bogdan|editor5-last=Kulkarni|editor5-first=Malhar|title=Devadattīyam : Johannes Bronkhorst felicitation volume|date=2012|publisher=Peter Lang|location=Bern|isbn=9783034306829}}, p. 495</ref>


The plastic art of early [[Mahayana]] Buddhism in [[Mathura]] presents [[bodhisattva]]s in a form called {{IAST|''uṣṇīṣin''}} "wearing a turban/hair binding", wielding the [[mudra]]s for "nonviolent cakravartin rule".<ref name=Falk/>
The plastic art of early [[Mahayana]] Buddhism in [[Mathura]] presents [[bodhisattva]]s in a form called {{IAST|''uṣṇīṣin''}} "wearing a turban/hair binding", wielding the [[mudra]]s for "nonviolent cakravartin rule".<ref name=Falk/>


=== Possible Indus Valley origins ===
=== Possible Indus Valley origins ===
⚫
A bull figurine excavated from [[Lakhan-Jo-Daro|Lakhan-jo-Daro]] from bronze age [[Indus Valley Civilisation|Indus Valley Civilization]] has a similar Ushnisha styled knob above its head, its a unique feature and not applied to any other bull figurine indicating intelligence insignia.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Mallah|first=Qasid Hussain|last2=Shafiq|first2=Tooba|date=2016|title=Exceptional objects from Lakhan-jo Daro|journal=Frontier Archaeology|volume=10-14|pages=81-88|via=researchgate}}</ref>


⚫
A bull figurine excavated from [[Lakhan-Jo-Daro|Lakhan-jo-Daro]] from Bronze Age [[Indus Valley civilisation|Indus Valley Civilization]] has a similar Ushnisha styled knob above its head, its a unique feature and not applied to any other bull figurine indicating intelligence insignia.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Mallah|first=Qasid Hussain|last2=Shafiq|first2=Tooba|date=2016|title=Exceptional objects from Lakhan-jo Daro|journal=Frontier Archaeology|volume=10-14|pages=81–88|via=researchgate}}</ref>
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==See also==

⚫
*[[Uṣṇīṣa Vijaya Dhāraṇī Sūtra]] : {{cite wikisource |title=ऊष्णीष विजय ढारणी}}
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== See also ==

* [[Sahasrara]]
* [[Sitatapatra|Sitātapatra]]
* [[Usnisavijaya|Uṣṇīṣavijayā]]
⚫
* [[Uṣṇīṣa Vijaya Dhāraṇī Sūtra]]: {{cite wikisource |title=ऊष्णीष विजय ढारणी}}
* [[Classes of Tantra in Tibetan Buddhism]], the crown-protrusion mentioned in is this same upper-brain-blossoming/development, simply with a different label.


==References==
== References ==
{{reflist}}


{{Buddhism topics}}
{{reflist}}{{Buddhism topics}}


[[Category:Buddhist art]]
[[category:Buddhist art]]

Latest revision as of 11:06, 18 November 2024

Translations of
Ushnisha
Englishushnisha
Sanskritउष्णीष
(IAST: uṣṇīṣa)
Bengaliউষ্ণীষ
(ushnish)
Chinese肉髻
(Pinyin: ròu jì)
Japanese肉髻
(Rōmaji: nikukei)
Korean육계
(RR: yukgye)
Glossary of Buddhism
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The ushnisha (Sanskrit: उष्णीष, romanized: uṣṇīṣa) is a three-dimensional oval on top of the head. In Pali scriptures, it is the crown of Buddha, the symbol of his Enlightenment and Enthronement.

Description

[edit]
Head of the Buddha, crowned by the ushnisha, 3rd century, Hadda, Afghanistan

The Ushnisha is the thirty-second of the 32 major marks of the Buddha. The thirty-second of these is that the Buddha has a fleshy or cranial protuberance at the top of his head. Later sets elaborate that this is covered with hairs that curl in the direction of the sun.

Later on a second definition of Ushnisha was added, which was a flame that ascends from the middle of this protuberance.

Representation

[edit]
Flame Ushnisha, 14–15 century, Sukhothai, Thailand

The first representations of the Buddha in the 1st century CE in the art of Gandhara also represent him with a topknot, rather than just a cranial knob. It is thought that the interpretation of the ushnisha as a supernatural cranial protuberance happened at a later date, as the representation of the topknot became more symbolic and its original meaning was lost.[1]

Origins

[edit]

Portrayal of Śākyamuni Buddha with an ushnisha has varied throughout history and depended on which school is doing the portrayal. The Sri Lankan Tamrashatiya school, which would later give rise to Theravada, portrayed him as bald and having an ushnisha extending into the sky and beyond the possibility of measurement.[2] The Gandharan school of Buddhism, however, never portrayed Śākyamuni with the protuberance on the skull, but with the long wavy hair drawn up on the top of the head in a cluster of curls or in a knot concealing the ushnisha.[3]

The Boddhisattva-Cakravartin in Early Buddhism

[edit]

In Early Buddhism, the uṣṇīṣa was represented differently. The Mahāvastu (1.259f) and the Divyāvadāna, as well as the Theravadin Milindapañha, describe the marks of the cakravartin, an idealised world-ruler: uṣṇīṣa or patka turban, chhatra parasol, "horn jewel" or vajra, whisk and sandals. These were the marks of the kshatriya.[4]

The plastic art of early Mahayana Buddhism in Mathura presents bodhisattvas in a form called uṣṇīṣin "wearing a turban/hair binding", wielding the mudras for "nonviolent cakravartin rule".[4]

Possible Indus Valley origins

[edit]

A bull figurine excavated from Lakhan-jo-Daro from Bronze Age Indus Valley Civilization has a similar Ushnisha styled knob above its head, its a unique feature and not applied to any other bull figurine indicating intelligence insignia.[5]

See also

[edit]
  • Sahasrara
  • Sitātapatra
  • Uṣṇīṣavijayā
  • Uṣṇīṣa Vijaya Dhāraṇī Sūtra: ऊष्णीष विजय ढारणी  – via Wikisource.
  • Classes of Tantra in Tibetan Buddhism, the crown-protrusion mentioned in is this same upper-brain-blossoming/development, simply with a different label.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Mario Bussagli, L'art du Gandhara
  2. ^ Yeshe Dorje, Longchen; Rinpoche, Kangyur; Lingpa, Jigme (2020). Treasury of Precious Qualities: Book Two Vajrayana and the Great Perfection. Shambhala Publishing. p. 287. ISBN 9781611800999.
  3. ^ Getty, Alice (1914). The Gods of Northern Buddhism: Their History, Iconography, and Progressive Evolution Through the Northern Buddhist Countries. Clarendon Press. p. 179. ISBN 9780804811293.
  4. ^ a b Falk, Harry, "Small-Scale Buddhism" in Voegeli, François; Eltschinger, Vincent; Candotti, Maria Piera; Diaconescu, Bogdan; Kulkarni, Malhar, eds. (2012). Devadattīyam : Johannes Bronkhorst felicitation volume. Bern: Peter Lang. ISBN 9783034306829., p. 495
  5. ^ Mallah, Qasid Hussain; Shafiq, Tooba (2016). "Exceptional objects from Lakhan-jo Daro". Frontier Archaeology. 10–14: 81–88 – via researchgate.
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