In honor of Shakyamuni Buddha’s awakening, this masterpiece Shakyamuni Buddha statue is depicted in the Bhumisparsha, or “Earth Touching,” mudra — the gesture that celebrates his victory over temptation. While meditating under the Bodhi tree on the verge of enlightenment, he was set upon by the demon Mara, who assailed him with worldly temptations and terrors. Mara’s efforts were in vain: Shakyamuni reached down and touched the earth, calling the earth goddess as witness to the merit of his countless lifetimes. She arose and, in the traditional account, wrung the waters of his accumulated virtue from her hair, sweeping away Mara’s army.
With Mara defeated, Shakyamuni Buddha became the enlightened Buddha of our era. Yet he did not leave his followers behind — he remained for decades of teaching, showing others the path to enlightenment. Learn more about the meaning behind the name Shakyamuni Buddha in our complete guide to Shakyamuni statues.
This 52.5cm gold gilded masterpiece sits in full lotus pose on a broad throne ringed with lotus petal bands — the lotus being Shakyamuni’s own symbol, for just as the flower rises from the muddy pond bottom to blossom in clean air and sunshine, the Buddha rose above the vicissitudes of samsara to attain enlightenment. The alms bowl of a monastic rests in his upturned left palm, symbolizing his renunciant life. Rising behind him is a magnificent torana-style aureole: a flame-edged backplate worked in dense foliate scrollwork, peaking above his head, with an inner circular halo radiating behind the face. His tightly curled hair is painted a deep lapis blue — the color of the Buddha’s hair in traditional iconography — rising to the ushnisha with a gold finial, and his robe is nothing short of extraordinary: dense engraved scrollwork inlaid throughout with coral and turquoise stones in diamond patterns along the sash, sleeve, and hems. The urna, elongated earlobes, and three neck lines complete the traditional marks of an enlightened being — explore all 32 in our guide to Buddha physical characteristics.
Shakyamuni Buddha Statue Importance
Our masterpiece Shakyamuni Buddha statue represents the original Buddha. He earned the title “Sammasambuddha” — a perfectly self-awakened one — because he discovered the Dharma path on his own and attained Nirvana without a teacher, then taught all of his followers how to realize enlightenment themselves. All subsequent Buddhas and the entire Sangha have followed in his footsteps. Read more about his place at the head of the tradition in Shakyamuni Buddha in the Buddhist pantheon.
Shakyamuni Buddha was the father of the original Buddhist teaching, and from its spread arose the Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana traditions practiced worldwide today. A statue of this caliber is an heirloom-grade devotional centerpiece — before it ships, you can verify its provenance with our guide, Is Your Nepali Buddha Statue Authentic?, and 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.
