Shakyamuni Sculpture | 7.75″ Gold Plated | Authentic Nepal

Our Shakyamuni sculpture depicts the historical Buddha in the Bhumisparsha, or “earth touching,” mudra, seated in full lotus pose. This is the gesture most closely associated with Shakyamuni: the right hand drapes over the right knee, palm facing inward, fingers lightly touching the ground — the very gesture the Buddha made under the Bodhi tree on the verge of enlightenment, calling the earth itself to witness his victory over Mara. His face is delicately hand painted, with the urna between the brows, softly outlined eyes, and lips finished in red, beneath tightly curled blue-black hair rising to the ushnisha, capped with a gold finial.

His left hand rests in his lap with the palm facing upward, cradling an alms bowl — the Dhyana, or meditation, mudra, which may be depicted with or without the bowl. The alms bowl symbolizes the Buddha’s renunciant life and the spiritual nourishment he offers to all beings. Read more about the historical Buddha’s place at the head of the tradition in Shakyamuni Buddha — The Historical Buddha.

World Class Shakyamuni Sculpture

This beautiful Shakyamuni sculpture was created by our Nepali artisans using the traditional lost wax sculpting method, resulting in finely hand-carved scrollwork engravings across the robe and pedestal. The face was gold hand painted for lifelike expression, and the sculptor used gold electroplating to provide the statue’s warm golden luster. Most distinctive of all, the robe is adorned throughout with inlaid semi-precious stones: a large turquoise-and-coral medallion at the chest, jeweled bands along the sleeve, and clustered stone roundels at the knees and cuffs — a level of ornamentation reserved for our finest showcase pieces.

For many centuries, Nepali artisans have been the preferred source of sculpture and ritual items for the Tibetan monasteries — so when you purchase our Shakyamuni Buddha sculpture, rest assured you have procured a monastic quality statue. Have questions about Shakyamuni Buddha statues? Read our Shakyamuni Buddha FAQ, covering iconography, mudras, and the historical Buddha’s life story, or browse our full collection of Shakyamuni Buddha statues to compare sizes and finishes.