Elements of Buddhist Iconography

This volume is a sustained demonstration of Coomaraswamy's knowledge of Buddhist iconography, showing that Buddhist art in India began around the second century before Christ with a well-developed set of symbols. The book covers essential Buddhist icons including the lotus flower (purity/enlightenment), dharmachakra (wheel of dharma), stupa, Bodhi tree, mudras (hand gestures), and other ritual implements that convey dharma concepts through visual language. It combines detailed textual, iconographic, and comparative studies to explain how Buddhist iconography functions as a rich visual language communicating profound teachings without words.