Shakyamuni Buddha small copper statue

Powerfully crafted statue of Shakyamuni Buddha made of copper - patinated in warm red-brown, with a lively surface texture and carefully chiseled details.

The Buddha sits in the lotus position (vajrasana) on a double-row lotus throne with a pearl-studded edge. The right hand reaches down over the knee to the earth - the bhumisparsha mudra (earth-touching gesture) with which Shakyamuni invoked the earth to witness his awakening at the moment of enlightenment. The left hand rests in the lap and holds an alms bowl. The monk's robe draped over the left shoulder leaves the right shoulder bare; its hem is interwoven with fine tendril patterns. The hair is in the traditional snail curls and crowned by the ushnisha; the face is calm and turned inwards, with the urna between the brows.

Shakyamuni is the historical Buddha - founder of the Buddhist teachings and teacher of the Dharma. The earth-touching gesture refers to the central moment of his enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, when he resisted all temptations and called upon the earth to bear witness. The alms bowl stands for a life of renunciation and for the connection between the monastic community and the laity.

The statue is intended for ritual filling - a traditional act of consecration that activates the figure as a Dharma object.

Made in a traditional artisan workshop in Nepal.

Copper · Height approx. 9 cm