This 19″ (49cm) standing Maitreya Buddha statue is one of the most unusual pieces in the Golden Buddha collection. Where virtually all Maitreya statues in the Newar tradition depict him seated upright on a throne — his most recognizable iconographic posture — this figure presents him standing, a rarer form rooted in early Indian Buddhist sculpture and the Gandharan tradition. The statue is fire-gilded in 24K gold with a deliberate low luster finish rather than the high-gloss fire gilding seen on most pieces in the collection. The low luster finish gives the gold a warmer, more matte quality — closer in appearance to aged sacred objects and suited to practitioners who prefer a quieter aesthetic for their altar or shrine room. Each figure is individually cast in copper alloy using the traditional lost wax method by Shakya caste artisans in Patan, Nepal.
Maitreya (Sanskrit: Maitreya; Tibetan: Jampa) is the future Buddha — the fifth and final Buddha of the current world age in Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhist cosmology. He currently abides in Tusita Heaven awaiting the appointed time to descend to the earthly realm. The Maitreya prophecy holds that he will first appear in the city of Ketumati within the Chakravarti Kingdom, at a time when human beings have a lifespan of 80,000 years and the Dharma teachings of Shakyamuni have been entirely forgotten. Like Shakyamuni before him, Maitreya will attain enlightenment independently and reteach the complete Dharma path to all sentient beings.
Standing Maitreya Statue Features
In contrast to the seated Maitreya figures elsewhere in this collection, this standing form presents him in active, forward-facing posture — a figure descending toward the world rather than awaiting in contemplative preparation above it. His right hand hangs at his side with the palm facing forward, bearing a vajra (thunderbolt) on the palm — a mark of his indestructible enlightened nature. His left hand is raised in the Vitarka mudra (teaching gesture), holding the bare stems of lotus flowers — without blossoms — suggesting that he has already attained full Buddhahood and the lotus attributes of his Bodhisattva form have been fulfilled. He wears the simple robes of a monk rather than the crown and jewels of a Bodhisattva, reflecting the form in which he appears in the human realm as a fully realized Buddha. A finely carved circular halo frames his head.
His left hand hangs at his side in a natural position, and he wears the simple robes of a monk rather than the crown and jewels of a Bodhisattva — reflecting the form in which he will appear in the human realm as a fully realized Buddha rather than his present form as a Bodhisattva in Tusita Heaven. A finely carved circular halo frames his head. The Maitreya prophecy encourages all beings to overcome every obstacle to their spiritual realization in preparation for the future Buddha. Explore the full Maitreya Buddha statue collection or learn more about the Buddhist pantheon.
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.
