Buddha Shakyamuni – The Historical Buddha
  See it in the Museum
India and Nepal
Orientation 2
Display 1

ABS 002

 Code: ABS 002

  Country: Tibet (Ladakh - Kashmir)

  Style:

  Date: 1050 - 1150

  Dimensions in cm WxHxD: 18.8 x 20.6 x 10.9

  Materials: Brass

Buddha Shakyamuni 

Hollow cast in one piece. The eyes are inlaid with silver, and the lips, fingernails and edges of the monastery robe are inlaid with copper. The separately cast base was lost. The statue is not sealed.
 
The Buddha is seated in the diamond posture (vajraparyankasana). He rests his left hand in his lap and extends his right hand in the gesture of touching the earth (bhumisparsha-mudra). The upper monastery robe (uttarasanga) is draped in few folds and covers only the left shoulder. 
 
This image depicts the historical Buddha Shakyamuni and commemorates the defeat of Mara (Maravijaya) in Bodhgaya (Gaya district, Bihar, northern India). Bodhgaya is one of the "eight great places" (astamahasthana)of the Buddhist pilgrimage.