The Cosmic Body of the Buddha as a Narrative Motif

Images in which the world is depicted on the body of a buddha, which we call a “cosmic body” of a buddha, have long been the subject of debate among art historians, notably around the question of the identity of the buddha depicted and the original context in which these depictions were conceived. This contribution addresses the issue from a literary perspective, by studying texts that describe the world appearing on the body of a buddha. We propose that the relevant passages are not representations of a particular buddha or theological conception, but instances of a motif, i.e., a narrative element that can be inserted into stories for various purposes. It appears that this motif was borrowed from contemporary Brahmanical literature, especially the Mahabharata, and initially had an apologetic function.