Bhaishajyaguru – The Medicine Buddha
  See it in the Museum
India and Nepal
Orientation 1
Furniture 1

ABS 183

 Code: ABS 183

  Country: Tibet

  Style:

  Date: 1550 - 1650

  Dimensions in cm WxHxD: 13.6 x 17.3 x 10.8

  Materials: Gilt copper

Baishajyaguru, the Medicine Buddha

Baishajyaguru, “The Master of Medicine” also known as “Medicine Buddha” is a famous figure of Mahayana Buddhism. Displaying all the usual feature of a Buddha (curly hair, cranial protuberance, distended earlobes…), he is dressed as an ascetic, his legs crossed in the meditation posture. His distinctive attributes are the myrobalan fruit he holds in his right hand extended in the gesture of generosity, and the medicine bowl resting in his left. Though represented here in gilt copper, his normal complexion is deep blue, “as the lapis-lazuli”. He symbolizes the physician (Buddha) who cures the illness of suffering (duhkha) through his teachings (dharma).