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Shakyamuni Buddha is seated on a throne in dhyana asana, the well known
lotus position.
The Buddha Shakyamuni, at the moment of enlightenment, invoked the earth as witness, as indicated by the fingers of his right hand, which spread downward in bhumisparsha mudra, "the earth touching gesture". As the Buddhist sutras narrate, the sun and moon stood still, and all the creatures of the world came to offer respect to the Supreme One who had broken through the boundaries of egocentric existence. All Buddhist art celebrates this moment and leads the viewer toward the Buddha's experience of selfless and unsurpassed enlightenment.
Buddha is seated against a richly decorated torana dvara or "arch gateway" decorated with the familiar figure of Kirtimukha, a mythical animal holding snakes and two makaras, along with figures of horses and elephants. Accompanying this are three Chaityas which adorn the top of the arch/gate. He is dressed in clothes of royalty. The protuberance on the top of his head denotes superb mental acuity and his long earlobes denote superb perception.
The statue is comprised of four separate pieces. The arch is removable from the base. Shakyamuni can be removed from His base and the small footrest at his feet is also detachable.
"Be a light unto yourself," Buddha Shakyamuni declared at the end of his life. Become a Buddha, an awakened being, he urged, but never a blind follower of tradition.
This sculpture was individually handcrafted in Patan, Nepal by master artisans of the Shakya clan who are considered among the best in the world. These craftsmen are the modern heirs to a centuries-old tradition of creating sacred art for use in temples and monasteries. The fine metalworking techniques have been passed down from generation to generation since ancient times.
The Buddha Shakyamuni, at the moment of enlightenment, invoked the earth as witness, as indicated by the fingers of his right hand, which spread downward in bhumisparsha mudra, "the earth touching gesture". As the Buddhist sutras narrate, the sun and moon stood still, and all the creatures of the world came to offer respect to the Supreme One who had broken through the boundaries of egocentric existence. All Buddhist art celebrates this moment and leads the viewer toward the Buddha's experience of selfless and unsurpassed enlightenment.
Buddha is seated against a richly decorated torana dvara or "arch gateway" decorated with the familiar figure of Kirtimukha, a mythical animal holding snakes and two makaras, along with figures of horses and elephants. Accompanying this are three Chaityas which adorn the top of the arch/gate. He is dressed in clothes of royalty. The protuberance on the top of his head denotes superb mental acuity and his long earlobes denote superb perception.
The statue is comprised of four separate pieces. The arch is removable from the base. Shakyamuni can be removed from His base and the small footrest at his feet is also detachable.
"Be a light unto yourself," Buddha Shakyamuni declared at the end of his life. Become a Buddha, an awakened being, he urged, but never a blind follower of tradition.
This sculpture was individually handcrafted in Patan, Nepal by master artisans of the Shakya clan who are considered among the best in the world. These craftsmen are the modern heirs to a centuries-old tradition of creating sacred art for use in temples and monasteries. The fine metalworking techniques have been passed down from generation to generation since ancient times.