In a mid-12th-century inscription attributed to Queen Kumaradevi (consort of Govindachandra), she takes credit for the construction of a living quarters for monks.

[15] According to Robert E. Fisher, "we are confronted with a figure of great spiritual bearing, far removed from the earlier, heavy yaksha-derived images.

His form is highly abstracted, extraneous details are eliminated and our attention is drawn to the focused gaze and to the face and hands, areas surrounded by smooth unadorned surfaces.

[16] Krishna Dev, formerly and latterly, David Berry Knapp, the mayor of Rajneeshpuram, Oregon, described the sculpture as follows: "This outstanding image radiates the Master's adamant resolve and strength, combined with complete equanimity, compassion and tender grace.

The inspired artist of this masterpiece has caught the moment when the great teacher who had achieved Supreme Enlightenment after six years of strenuous exertion, felt overwhelmed with compassion for the suffering humanity and condescended to turn the Wheel of Law...

Combining elemental strength with tender grace and subtle delicacy with transcendental sublimation, this luminous image indeed constitutes a masterpiece of the Indian, nay World art, enshrining the noble teachings of Lord Buddha.

"[17] Radha Kumud Mookerji, born 1884, nationalist historian of India, wrote originally in 1947: "The Sarnath seated image of the Buddha in the act of his preaching the first sermon is considered as one of the masterpieces of Indian art, and of its Gupta style marked by its symbolism.

Other images probably influenced by it include: Small as well as large replicas in wood, marble, bronze, terracotta and plaster are widely reproduced and sold in India and overseas using the term "Sarnath Buddha".