This compact 8″ Shakyamuni Buddha statue is partly fire gilded in 24K gold with an antique finish on the copper body — a warm, aged patina on the robes and pedestal set against selectively gilded crown, face, and throne detailing. The antique treatment gives the statue a dignified, understated character well suited to a personal shrine, meditation room, or travel altar where a smaller, quietly beautiful piece is preferred over a fully gilded centerpiece. The statue was handcrafted in Patan, Nepal — the historic city in the Kathmandu Valley that lies within the same kingdom where Shakyamuni Buddha was born in Lumbini — using the traditional lost wax sculpting method. The face is hand-painted in real gold.
The statue bears the traditional physical markings of a fully enlightened being: the ushnisha (crown protuberance), the urna (third eye of wisdom between the brows), elongated earlobes, and the clockwise-curling hair coils that are among the 32 physical characteristics of the historical Buddha recorded in the Pali Canon. These iconographic details have been standard features of authentic Shakyamuni sculpture throughout the Himalayan Buddhist tradition, and the fine hand-carving on this statue renders each one with the precision characteristic of master Newar craftsmanship.
Shakyamuni Buddha Statue Features
Shakyamuni is depicted in full lotus posture on a single lotus pedestal, displaying the Bhumisparsha mudra — the earth-touching gesture. The right hand drapes over the right knee with the palm facing inward and the fingers extended downward, lightly touching the ground. This is the gesture the historical Buddha displayed at the moment of his enlightenment under the Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya, calling the earth deity to witness his realization as Mara sought to challenge it — which is why Shakyamuni statues in this pose are also known as “Earth Witness” Buddha statues.
His left hand rests in the lap in the Dhyana mudra — the meditation gesture, palm open and facing upward — with an alms bowl resting in the palm. The alms bowl symbolizes the Buddha’s renunciation of his royal life and his adoption of the monastic path, and is understood to hold the three nectars that counteract the three poisons of ignorance, greed, and hatred. The Newar artisans of Patan have supplied sacred Shakyamuni sculpture of this quality to Tibetan monasteries for centuries, and this statue reflects that tradition in its iconographic precision and craftsmanship.
Authentic, Handmade in Nepal
Every statue and ritual item is handcrafted in Patan, Nepal, using traditional lost wax casting and comes with a certificate of authenticity issued by Nepal's Department of Archaeology, verifying its materials, technique, and origin.
db22115 (verified owner) –
We recommend anyone who comes across this website and would like to make a purchase, please dont hesitate we encourage you to do so! Our beautiful statue that we purchased has brought happiness beyond our expectations! Our statue arrived promptly and in one piece! We will always purchase from here. Edwin, thank you! You were very helpful through the whole process, thank you!