Most often the Buddha is depicted in the pose dhyanasana(meditation position, lotus position) or in an upright position, in a simple monastic robe and with elongated earlobes (a sign of the royal family, which at the same time indicates the all-hearing of the Teacher). On the neck there are three barely noticeable stripes (symbol trikayi). Buddha's hair is folded in the form of a tubercle/knot ( ushnisha) in accordance with how the monks of that time wore it, in the future this detail will acquire independent meaning, symbolizing Enlightenment. In the area between the eyebrows is depicted urn, a symbol of inner spiritual vision. Around the head - mandorla
The first anthropomorphic sculptural images of Buddha appeared in India in the 1st-2nd centuries. n. e. However, the Buddhist tradition connects their appearance with events that occurred during his lifetime. A number of details that are mentioned in the texts are directly related to the emerging iconography and, more broadly, to the understanding of what exactly the image of the Buddha is for his followers. Legends about the first lifetime images of Shakyamuni Buddha are in one way or another connected with the appearance or creation of statues at the request of wealthy patrons. Indian scholar U. P. Shah also noted that the instances described in the sutras of the Buddha urging his followers not to set up images of him as an object of worship indirectly indicate that such attempts were actually made during his lifetime.
The art of Buddhist sculpture, as legend has it, began with the wealthy patron of Buddhism and merchant Anathapindika, who once invited the Buddha and his monks to take the midday meal. When the Buddha declined the invitation, he asked the Master to erect a statue of precious metals, perfect in every detail: it became known as the "Precious Master". Another version of this legend says: when the Blessed One was away in the Trayastrimsa heaven, the king of Varanasi made a sandalwood image of the Buddha for his personal prayers. When the Buddha again descended into the human sphere from the sphere of the gods, the statue took six steps in greeting. Then the Blessed One ordered her: “Go to China in order to sanctify this country!” - and the statue, known as the Sandalwood Lord, flew through the air to China. This legend and the associated image of Buddha, which is now located in Buryatia in the Egituisky datsan, were fully studied in the book by A. A. Terentyev. Legends of flying statues are not uncommon in the Buddhist area in general. It should be noted that all Buddhist statues of any age have a mythological history, referring either to the legendary craftsmen who made them, or to their miraculous self-appearance. According to Buddhist tradition, there are many statues that reside in the "outer ocean", or realm of the gods, which then manifest on Earth.
Let us pay attention to a number of important points following from the above legends. In the last mythological plot, the Buddha actually spiritualizes the inert matter of sculpture, which takes the sculpture beyond the limits of rough materiality, transforms the plastic mass, restructures it, realizing its potential to be commensurate with the Tathagata (which is why sculpture takes steps towards him). Moreover, he endows the statue with a sacred function: “Go to China in order to sanctify this country!” - that is, stay there like me, sanctify this space with me. The statue reveals the “non-difference” of the nature of the Blessed One and the nature of the sculpture, but also “non-identity,” since Buddhist sculpture has never acted as an object of idolatry. In addition, the appearance of the “Walking Buddha” iconography common in Southeast Asia is also related to the mentioned legends.
According to the assumption of Ts.-B. B. Badmazhapov, a number of legends associated with the creation of the first pictorial images also influenced the nature of the drawing of folds in the statues of an upright or seated Buddha in the schools of Gandhara and Mathura (folds “like ripples on water”). Another unifying point of the legends, including those related to the first pictorial images, is that the artists were unable to depict the Teacher because of his radiance. The common semantic node of these mythological subjects is the luminous phenomenon of the nature of Buddha, which was directly embodied in the painting. Thus, according to the Divyavadana, King Rudrayana, or Udayana, sent artists to the Blessed One to paint his portrait, but their attempts were in vain, and the Buddha himself transferred his likeness to canvas. The treatise by Lobsan-Danbi-Chzhaltskhan contains a legend similar in semantic context to the image of the Buddha, “arising from the rays.” It is associated with the episode when Buddha himself drew his image with a ray. Subsequently, it was reproduced in paint by artists and, according to Ts.-B. B. Badmazhapov, may be associated with the formation of the iconography around the Buddha of the halo (mandorla). Another story tells of a disciple of the Tathagata who could not grasp the measure (divine proportions) of the Teacher, and again the reason for this was the radiance emanating from him. In one version of the legend, Shakyamuni ordered the student to outline his shadow; in another, he stood on the bank of the river so that the students could capture his reflection in the water. The latter refers precisely to the appearance of images of the central folds of the Buddha’s robe, “like ripples on water.”
The time of the appearance of the first images of Buddha - the turn of the millennium for the Buddhist sangha - was marked by religious disputes (at the Kashmir Council under Emperor Kanishka (1st-2nd centuries) there was a split in Buddhist schools) and at the same time the widespread spread of Buddhism among the masses and its democratization.
Of course, this time required the appearance of a specific visual image of the Teacher as an example of achieving the state of Buddha in the human body, as an indication of the connection between the Teacher and the student.
To date, science has not formed an evidence base for the simultaneous or sequential emergence of anthropomorphic sculptural and pictorial images of the Buddha. But as far as the currently known art monuments allow us to judge, Indian antiquity nevertheless responded more actively to the sculptural and plastic basis of the image. The appearance of sculptural images of Buddha marked the creation of a different volumetric-plastic form of reflection of the Absolute than a stupa. And although in the future the stupa and sculpture will coexist in parallel in the history of culture, it is necessary to emphasize the unique transfer of meaning from the stupa to the sculpture in the space of the cave temple. The similar semantics of the stupa and sculpture as the body of the Buddha is obviously traced in the growth of the pictorial principle in the structure of the sguis found in the chaityagrihas (the image of the Buddha in the structure of the stupa in cave No. 19 of Ajanta and cave No. 10 in Ellora). Later, the stupa would establish itself as a separate object in predominantly monastic complexes, and the sculpture would occupy a dominant position in a Buddhist temple.
He also possessed
32 PURE BODY SIGNS OF A GREAT HUSBAND.
The most prominent iconographic feature of the Buddha
USHNISHA -
a semicircular protrusion on the head, a structural feature of the skull indicating extreme wisdom.
In addition to it, it is definitely present
URN -
mark between the eyebrows (symbol of the endless movement of the Sun),
long, knee-length HANDS,
FINGERS on hands are the same length and
the same on the legs
long earlobes reaching to the shoulders.
In the countries of Southeast Asia, there are THREE main types of sculptural images of the founder of the doctrine, you
and you noticed it yourself and can list it, so :), that’s right:
STANDING Buddha
SEATED Buddha
RECLINING Buddha
Images of Buddha who has achieved nirvana are usually of the same type:
he lies on his right side, his head rests on his right arm, bent at the elbow, the whole figure personifies peace and tranquility.
One of these figures is shown to all tourists who come on an excursion to the royal palace and the nearby famous temples of Wat Prakeo and Wat Pho. In Wat Pho lies a large golden Buddha in this classic pose,
where everyone walks around it and throws coins into the bowls along its contour.
There are TWO main postures of a seated Buddha.
MARAVIJAY Pose -
means the victory of Buddha over the tempter demon Mara. In it, the Buddha sits cross-legged, with his right hand resting on his right
knee
Another pose - SAMADHI -
corresponds to the lotus position - a symbol of balance, absolute calm and victory of the mind over the senses.
In addition, the figures of the standing and sitting Buddha, as more attentive art lovers have noticed, differ
MUDRAMI - Skt. GESTURE)
symbolic positions of the hands and fingers, each of which carries a deep meaning.
ABHAYA MUDRA - gesture of fearlessness -
the right arm is bent at chest level, the palm with straight and pressed fingers looks outward. This gesture shows
that the Buddha's teaching gives protection, brings peace and eliminates fear.
VARADA MUDRA - gesture of beneficence -
the right and left hands are half-lowered, the open palm is directed downwards, which symbolizes compassion and goodness.
The combination of both gestures is especially characteristic of sculptural images in Thailand and Laos.
As a rule, a standing or walking Buddha is depicted with this position of his hands.
For example, the famous walking Buddha (14th century) which is kept in Bangkok in the Pentyamabophit vata.
DHARMACHAKRA MUDRA - gesture of the wheel of dharma -
The Buddha, having already achieved enlightenment, is depicted during his first sermon, when he revealed the dharma to his disciples, otherwise
speaking, he turned the wheel of dharma. The index finger and thumb of the Buddha’s left hand touch, symbolically depicting
When pressing the wheel of dharma, the three straightened fingers symbolize the three jewels of Buddhism - Buddha, dharma and sangha.
DHYANA MUDRA - gesture of mediation -
The left or both hands rest on the knees, palms up. The gesture symbolizes meditation. In the art of Southeast Asia
the meditating Buddha is sometimes depicted under the hood of the many-headed snake king Muccilinda.
BHUMISPARSA - MUDRA - gesture of touching the ground -
one of the most common Buddha images in Southeast Asia. The teacher is depicted in a state of deep contemplation,
at the moment of attaining enlightenment, His left hand rests on His knees, palm turned upward, right hand down
down and touches the ground - Buddha calls on the earth to witness the accomplished enlightenment.
Well, now we have learned something from some postures and gestures, as it turned out that there are many more of them in Hinduism.
But here we looked at images of Buddhas in Thailand.
But the next time, entering the temple, carefully looking at the hands and fingers of the teacher,
Remembering this text, let's release a beautiful sound into space - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - VARADA MUDRA!
The study of Buddhism has inspired people to create masterpieces of art around the world, the most notable of these works being the statues of Buddha known as Buddharupa (literally translated as the Awakened One) that have adorned Buddhist temples for generations. Listed here are ten of the most famous and beautiful statues in the world.
Some of these Buddha statues are among the largest in the world.
10. Buddha statue at Hussain Sagar lake
The Buddha statue is located in the center of an artificial lake in the city of Hyderabad and is one of the most famous Buddha statues in India. It is a whopping 17 meters (56 feet) tall and weighs 320 tons. It is the largest monolithic statue in all of India and was made by a group of artisans from a single piece of stone. Unfortunately, during the installation of the statue in 1992, it toppled over and fell into the lake, killing 8 workers. The government restored the statue and placed it in the middle of the lake.
9. Tian Tan Buddha
The Tian Tan Buddha is sometimes called the Big Buddha and is located on Lantau Island in Hong Kong. The statue, made of bronze and completed in 1993, is the main feature of Po Lin Monastery, symbolizing the harmony between man, nature, people and religion. The statue is called Tian Tan Buddha because its base is an exact copy of the Tian Tan Temple of Heaven in Beijing. The statue sits on a lotus throne on top of a three-tiered altar. At 34 meters (110 feet) tall, the Tian Tan Buddha is presented in a pose of calm. His right hand is raised to relieve disaster. His left hand rests on his knee, symbolizing happiness.
8. Buddha in Monywa
Monywa is a city in central Myanmar. Located on the banks of the Chindwin River. To the east of the city are Po Khaung Taung, a series of hills where you can see the Maniwa Buddha - the largest reclining Buddha statue in the world. 90 meters (300 feet) long. The head alone is 18.2 meters (60 feet) tall. Maniwa Buddha was built in 1991 and is hollow inside, allowing visitors to walk inside the statue from head to toe. Inside the figure are metal images of the Buddha and his disciples, depicting various important events in the life of the Buddha.
Recently, a giant standing Buddha statue was built at the top of the Po Kaung Hills. 132 meters (433 ft) tall and is one of the largest Buddha statues in the world.
7. Buddha head in Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya is a city in Thailand that is home to one of the most unusual statues of the Awakened One (Buddha) in the world. Among the ruins of Wat Mahathat (Temple of the Great Relic) are the remains of a Buddha statue, whose body was lost for centuries, but the head of this statue miraculously found its home among the vines and tree roots. Around this statue there are many architectural structures that have survived the attacks of time.
6. Gal Viharaya
Located in central Sri Lanka, Polonnaruwa is home to one of the most spectacular Buddha images in the world - the Gal Viharaya. This massive rock temple was built by Parakramabah the Great in the 12th century. The main attraction of the temple is 4 large Buddha statues carved directly into the granite rock. Among these giant stone figures is a reclining Buddha statue, 14 meters (46 ft) long, and a standing statue, 7 meters (23 ft) high.
5. Ushiku Daibutsu
Ushiku Daibutsu is located in the city of Ushiku in Japan. The statue, completed in 1995, is one of the tallest statues in the world - 120 meters (394 ft) high including a 10 meter (30 ft) base and a 10 meter tall lotus, which is the platform for the statue. Visitors to the Buddha statue can take an elevator to the platform where the observation deck is located.
4. Temple of the Reclining Buddha
Located in Bangkok, Wat Pho is famous for its Reclining Buddha statue. This is one of the largest temples in Bangkok, as well as one of the oldest, it was built almost 200 years ago, before Bangkok became the capital of Thailand. Wat Pho holds a record of sorts in Thailand as it houses the largest Reclining Buddha statue in the country and the largest number of Buddha images. The gold-plated Reclining Buddha Statue is 46 meters long and 15 meters high, and depicts the final moments of the Buddha's life before he passed on to Nirvana. The eyes and legs of the statue are decorated with mother-of-pearl engraving. On the soles of the feet are depicted the 108 auspicious characteristics of a true Enlightened One.
3. Great Buddha of Kamakura
Kotoku-in is a Buddhist temple of the Jodo Shu sect located in the city of Kamakura in Japan. The temple is famous for its large Buddhist statue (or Daibutsu). Cast in bronze. The Great Buddha is more than 13 meters (40 feet) tall and weighs about 93 tons.
The first mention of the statue goes back to 1252. It is believed that the statue was erected by the Buddhist monk Joko, who also collected donations for the construction of the statue. Although the Buddha statue was originally housed in a small wooden temple, the Great Buddha is now outdoors since the temple was washed away by a tsunami in the 15th century.
2. Temple of the Emerald Buddha
Another one of the Buddhist temples in Bangkok. Wat Phra Kaew is the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, located on the grounds of the Grand Royal Palace. The main building is the central structure that houses the Emerald Buddha, one of the oldest and most famous Buddha statues in the world.
The jade statue is decorated with a golden robe. The Emerald Buddha, according to legend, was created in India in 43 BC. in the city of Pataliputra, where he remained for 300 years. In the 4th century AD, it was taken to Sri Lanka by Buddhist monks to save it from destruction. The statue eventually made its way to Thailand and was moved to Wat Phra Kaew in 1779. The statue has three different sets of golden robes, which are changed by His Majesty the King of Thailand during the ceremony of the changing of the seasons.
1. Giant Buddha Leshan
The Leshan Giant Buddha is a giant rock-cut Buddha statue in Sichuan Province, western China. The majestic sculpture represents the figure of Maitreya - the Bodhisattva, traditionally depicted in a sitting position. Construction that began in 713 during the Tang Dynasty was not completed until 803, even with the availability of a large workforce.
Thus, 90 years were spent on construction. This statue is immortalized in stories, poems and historical writings as the largest image of Buddha in the world. The sculpture is approximately 71 meters (233 ft) tall and has 3 meters (11 ft) fingers on each of its enormous hands. Today it is a popular tourist site in China.
Buddhism as a religious and philosophical movement has become a source of inspiration for many artists, musicians and sculptors from all over the world. Among the most beautiful creations of Buddhist adherents are statues depicting Buddha located in temples, monasteries and sacred places. Let's remember the 10 most interesting, unusual and amazing sculptures depicting someone who has achieved enlightenment.
In the city of Hyderabad, in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, there are many different shrines and wonderful places. One of them is a world-famous lake of artificial origin. In the center of it there is an island on which a Buddha statue is installed. Its weight exceeds 320 tons, and its height is as much as 17 meters! In 1992, during the installation of the statue, something went wrong and it toppled over, crushing 8 workers with its weight.
A huge statue of Buddha, called the Big One, is located on Lantau Island in Hong Kong. The Buddha was cast in bronze in 1993, and since then he has been decorating the area in front of the Po Lin Monastery, symbolizing the connection between nature and man, religion and everyday life. The statue is a replica of Tian Tan, the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. The Buddha sitting on a lotus flower is 34 meters high and weighs about 250 tons. He is calm, his right hand is raised and his left is resting on his knee. It is interesting that all the Buddhas of the world are placed facing south, this one faces north. It is also the largest seated Buddha statue in Asia.
Monywa is a town in central Myanmar, not the most popular among tourists coming to this country. However, it contains many beautiful treasures: wonderful temples, stupas and statues. On the ridge of hills located east of the city there are two unusual Buddha statues. Interestingly, they are hollow inside and anyone can enter them. One statue is a reclining Buddha, about 90 meters long. It was built in 1991. Inside it there are other images of Buddha and his disciples, illustrating important events for the formation of religion. Next to him stands Buddha, towering 132 meters. This is one of the tallest Buddha statues in the world. It looks like a lighthouse because it is decorated with golden vestments that sparkle in the sun.
Ayutthaya is the ancient capital of the state that preceded (Siam). Now on the site of the once great city there are ruins of palaces, monasteries and temples. The city's historical park is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. One of the most photographed and popular objects here is the head of Buddha, entangled in the roots of an ancient tree. It is located on the ruins of Wat Mahathat Temple. The body has long been lost, and the face expresses either joy or bliss.
The Gal Vihara Temple, located in the north center of the island, is home to one of the most remarkable Buddha statues. The name Gal Vihara belongs to a massive rock in the historical area of Polonnaruwa. There are 4 Buddhas carved in stone here - all hidden in caves and in different poses. One, reclining, is 14 meters long. The other one, standing, is 7 meters high. Once upon a time, each statue was preserved by the walls of temples, now destroyed. The sculptures date back to the 12th century and were first discovered by Europeans in 1820.
The 120-meter tall Ushiku Daibutsu Buddha statue is located in the city of Daibutsu. She stands on a 10-meter platform in the shape of a great lotus. There is an observation deck on the platform, which can be reached by elevator. The statue depicting Buddha Amitabha was built in 1995. It is believed to be the largest free-standing Buddha.
The Temple of the Reclining Buddha is one of the top ten must-see places in Bangkok. This is one of the largest and oldest temples in the capital. It also houses the largest reclining Buddha statue and the largest number of Buddha images in the country. The gilded statue is 46 meters long and 15 meters high. It symbolizes the Buddha who has gone into nirvana. His eyes and legs are decorated with mother-of-pearl engraving.
Gestures of Buddha, or how to use mudras in the house.
1. Mudra Abhaya - fearlessness
Let's start with one of the most popular hand gestures of the Buddha, called Abhaya Mudra. It bestows the energy of fearlessness. This is a very popular gesture that is found in many home decor items featuring Buddha, be it sculptures, paintings or even candle holders.
Buddha is fearless and protective. So, what is Abhaya Mudra? "Abhaya" is translated from Sanskrit as "fearlessness." This gesture is performed with the open palm of the right hand extended outward at chest level or slightly above. Looking at this hand gesture of the Buddha, one can feel the energy of protection, peace and a strong sense of inner security. This is a great addition to the Feng Shui of any home.
The best place, according to Feng Shui, for Abhaya mudra is the hallway or living room.
2. Mudra Dhyana - meditation
Dhyana or samadhi mudra is a hand gesture that promotes the energy of meditation, deep contemplation and oneness with the higher energy.
Connecting with the energy of the cosmos. The circulation of energy created by the triangle of touching thumbs of both hands also helps to cleanse any “impurities” of extraneous energy at the etheric level. Just by looking at this hand gesture of the Buddha, one can connect with the energy of deep peace and serenity.
The best place, according to Feng Shui, for Dhyana mudra is a meditation room, an altar, the center of the house or a study.
3. Mudra Namaskara - greeting and worship
Namaskara or Anjali Mudra is a hand gesture that signifies greeting another person with utmost respect and worship to the divine in all things. As is easy to see, the greeting is expressed in the form of a gesture of prayer coming from the heart or third eye.
Only with the heart can one comprehend this world. Namaskara mudra can be depicted with palms at the level of the heart or forehead, since only with the heart or deep spiritual insight (third eye) can a person comprehend that everyone around is a manifestation of the same light.
It is interesting to note that the Buddha no longer made this hand gesture after achieving enlightenment. The reason for this is quite simple - when he became one with the light and divine energy, he no longer needed to express adoration, because expressing worship of something means that one is beyond what he worships.
The best place in the house for Namaskar mudra is the front door, dining room, living room or home office.
4. Mudra Bhumisparsha - calling the Earth to witness
Bhumisparsha Mudra is translated as “Touching the Earth” or “Calling the Earth to Witness the Truth.” This gesture is always depicted with the right hand, and the left hand lies on the knees with the palm facing outward (Varada mudra).
Bearing witness to the truth. Bhumisparsha mudra is considered the gesture of the Buddha at the moment when he achieved enlightenment. It symbolizes unshakable strength and truth, as well as the liberation of the Buddha, which helped him overcome the darkness (Mara) that threatened the Buddha before he reached the light.
The best place for Bhumisparsha mudra is the center of the house, the front door or the altar.
5. Mudra Varada - compassion, sincerity and fulfillment of desires
Varada Mudra expresses the energy of compassion, liberation and benefit. This mudra is done with the left hand and is most often seen in combination with other mudras such as Bhumisparsha or Abhaya.
Compassion, sincerity and fulfillment of desires. This mudra is also called the blessing mudra because it helps impart certain qualities to the energy that are unique to an enlightened being. Often a sacred image, such as a mandala or an eye, can be seen on the palm of the Buddha. This expresses the powerful energy emanating from the enlightened being through his hands.
The best place, according to Feng Shui, for the Buddha showing Varada Mudra is the northwest corner of the house or office.
6. Mudra Karana - expelling negativity
Karana Mudra expresses a very powerful energy through which negative energy is expelled. This gesture is also called "driving out evil." Just by looking at this gesture, you can sense a very determined, focused energy.
Buddha banishing evil If one has an image of Buddha showing Karana Mudra, one must be very careful about where it is placed, whether at home or office. It is impossible for Kanana mudra to “look” at the front door(there should be energy of greeting near it). Likewise, you should not place this image in your bedroom or children's room.
The best place for Buddha to show Karana mudra is any place in the home that needs a lot of negativity clearing, or a problem area of the home (such as windows facing a low energy alley).
7. Vazhrapradam mudra - self-confidence
Vajrapradama Mudra is usually translated as “Mudra of Unshakable Self-Confidence,” but this hand gesture means much more. Or at least not what is commonly understood as self-confidence. Perhaps the first words that come to mind when a person looks at this gesture of the Buddha are: “I come in peace, because I am the world.”
I come in peace because I am the world. He emits a whole blazing river of the most beautiful golden energy - soft, kind, shining, healing and eternal. It would be more correct to call this a gesture of trust in the “I” - the true “I”, which is one with the Divine energy.
The best place, according to Feng Shui, for Vajrapradama mudra is the center of the house, the living room or the front door.
8. Mudra Vitarka - transmission of teachings
Vitarka mudra is interpreted as a hand gesture that evokes the energy of learning and intellectual discussion or argumentation. Basically it can be expressed as conveying a certain teaching without words, and the circle formed by the thumb and forefinger creates a constant flow of energy/information.
To become wiser. As with Abhaya Mudra, the energy created by this hand gesture allows knowledge to be transmitted in a protected way, so that no fears interfere with it.
The best place for this mudra is a home office or library.
9 Mudra Dharmachakra - wheel of Dharma (cosmic order)
The Dharmachakra mudra expresses the continuous energy (symbolized by the wheel/chakra) of the cosmic order. The hands are placed at the level of the heart, with the thumbs and index fingers forming circles (similar to the Vitarka mudra). The right palm faces outward and the left palm faces the heart.
Peace passing through the heart. This mudra is associated with the first sermon or teaching of the Buddha. It is often described as representing the teaching of cosmic order emanating through the heart.
In an apartment, the best place for Dharmachakra mudra would be a home office or living room.
10. Uttarabodhi Mudra - highest enlightenment
Uttarabodhi is called the mudra of supreme enlightenment. It is formed by both hands located in the area of the heart. The index fingers touch each other and point upward, the remaining eight fingers intertwine.
Internal unity. Such a gesture of the hands clearly evokes a feeling of unshakable unity within oneself. If you try to perform the Uttarabodhi mudra for a couple of minutes, you can feel a subtle energetic shift in the body.
Uttarabodhi Mudra would be best placed in the north or south of your home or office. You can also try placing it in a prominent, high-energy place in your living room.
