In honor of his awakening, this framed masterpiece Shakyamuni sculpture is depicted in the Bhumisparsha mudra — the gesture celebrating his victory over earthly temptation. Assailed beneath the Bodhi tree by the demon Mara, Shakyamuni reached down and called the earth goddess as witness to the merit of his countless lifetimes.
In response to his beckoning, she came to witness the futility of Mara’s efforts and swept the demon’s army away — and Shakyamuni became the enlightened Buddha of our era. Yet he did not leave his followers behind: he remained for decades of teaching, helping others follow the path to enlightenment. Explore the symbolism of the Bhumisparsha mudra and other Shakyamuni Buddha hand gestures in our complete guide to Shakyamuni statues.
The Buddha instructs us to use meditation to gain mental and spiritual strength — only after gaining the necessary temperament can we face down our inner demons. His left hand therefore rests in the Dhyana, or meditation, mudra, lying gently in his lap with the alms bowl on the flat of the palm. The alms bowl carries deep symbolic meaning in Buddhism, representing the Buddha’s renunciant life and the spiritual nourishment he offers to all beings.
Lotus Pedestal & Torana Symbolism
This 42cm gold gilded Shakyamuni sculpture sits in full lotus pose on a stacked double lotus throne — and rising behind him is the piece’s crowning glory: a monumental teardrop torana worked entirely in dense repoussé scrollwork, climbing through openwork side panels to an ornate crest above his head, with the inner halo ringed by a band of inset turquoise stones encircling the Buddha’s face. The lotus is Shakyamuni’s own symbol: just as the flower grows from the bottom of a muddy pond to blossom in clean air and sunshine, the Buddha rose above the vicissitudes of samsara to attain enlightenment.
Our masterpiece Shakyamuni sculpture features embedded turquoise and red coral stones throughout — set into the halo ring, dotted along the engraved robe, and studding the petals of both lotus tiers. Turquoise is a combination of blue and green, with blue symbolizing the purity of the Buddhas and green their readiness to act, while red represents the poison of attachment: through meditation on the color red, Tibetan Buddhists believe attachment can be transmuted into the sublime wisdom of discernment.
Craftsmanship of Masterpiece Shakyamuni Sculpture
Nepali Buddha sculptures are created with intricate precision using the lost wax casting method — each sculpture is one of a kind and can never be exactly recreated. This piece is finished to the highest standard: observe the flawless scrollwork engraving flowing across every surface of the robe, the stone-set trim, and the feather-and-fret bands engraved at the base of the throne.
The statue is fire gilded using the traditional method and features a pure 24K gold finish. Our masterpiece Shakyamuni sculpture will inspire devotees to remain dedicated and strive toward the ultimate goal, and precious sculptures are traditionally understood to generate good karma for their owner. A piece of this caliber deserves confidence in its provenance — see our guide, Is Your Nepali Buddha Statue Authentic?, or browse our full collection of Shakyamuni Buddha statues to compare sizes and finishes.
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.
