Our framed Shakyamuni Buddha statue represents the founder of Buddhism. Shakyamuni Buddha was reincarnated as Prince Siddhartha Gautama in the 6th century BCE. After his renunciation he spent 6 years in the wilderness as an ascetic. However, his 6 years of practice resulted in him becoming the first self arisen Buddha of our time.
Framed Shakyamuni Buddha Statue Features:
As such, this framed Shakyamuni Buddha statue depicts the Bhumisparsha “earth touching” mudra. This mudra symbolizes his vanquishment of the demon (Mara) and calling the earth goddess to witness his supreme accomplishment. Additionally, the left hand of Shakyamuni Buddha is depicting Dhyana “meditation” mudra. Also, the alms bowl of a monk rests in the palm of his hand. This alms bowl is very symbolic and it is believed to hold the three nectars which will eliminate the three poisons of greed, hatred and ignorance.
Additional elements of the statue include the right turning hair coils, elongated ear lobes, three neck lines and ushnisha top knot. All of these attributes are symbols of high social status in ancient India and they are included in Buddhist sculpture.
This Shakyamuni statue was hand crafted by the artisans of Patan, Nepal. Additionally, the craftsman who created this statue is a member of the Shakya caste. For 1000 years the artisans of Patan have created sculptures using the lost wax casting method. As a result, they have been the preferred source of the Tibetan monasteries for many centuries. Therefore, when you purchase this statue you can rest assured that you have procured a monastic quality sculpture. Click here to learn more about the Nepali artisans