Seated Buddha in Bhumisparsha-mudra

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Name: Seated Buddha in Bhumisparsha-mudra
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: RM56
Price: 295.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$254.25

$339

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Specifications

	RM56
	Copper Sculpture
	Height: 7.4 inch
	Width: 5.4 inch
	Depth: 3 inch
	Weight 1.52 kg

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Fully Insured

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100% Handmade

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MADE IN INDIA.

The Earth Witness

This exquisite copper statue, crafted with the meticulous detail characteristic of Nepalese artistry, depicts the Buddha in the *bhumisparsha-mudra*. This sacred hand gesture, with the right hand reaching down to touch the earth, symbolizes the moment of enlightenment. It represents the Buddha calling upon the earth to witness his triumph over temptation and illusion. The statue’s rich, warm tone and intricate details evoke a sense of tranquility and profound spiritual power.

A Moment of Truth

The *bhumisparsha-mudra*, also known as the "earth-touching mudra," is central to the legend of Siddhartha Gautama's transformation into the Buddha. According to the story, Siddhartha, after years of ascetic practice, sat beneath the Bodhi tree determined to reach enlightenment. Mara, the demon of illusion and desire, assailed him with temptations, fears, and doubts. Mara unleashed his armies, trying to shake Siddhartha from his resolve, but Siddhartha remained steadfast. Finally, Mara challenged Siddhartha's right to sit on that spot and attain enlightenment. Siddhartha, having no other witness, reached down and touched the earth, calling upon it to testify to his countless lifetimes of spiritual practice and accumulated merit. The earth roared its confirmation, and Mara and his demons fled in disarray. This moment marked Siddhartha's victory over all worldly illusions and his attainment of Buddhahood.

Craftsmanship and Spiritual Significance

The sculpture captures the Buddha seated in a meditative posture, his face serene and composed. The weight of the copper lends a sense of groundedness and permanence to the image. The detailing of the Buddha's robe, with its subtle folds and intricate borders, showcases the skill of the artisan. The tightly curled hair and elongated earlobes, symbolic of his renunciation of worldly possessions, are rendered with precision. The statue emanates a palpable sense of peace and enlightenment, serving as a reminder of the potential for spiritual awakening within all beings. A beautiful addition to any space dedicated to meditation, contemplation, or the appreciation of sacred art, this statue serves as a constant reminder of the Buddha's triumph and the possibility of achieving liberation.

How are Nepalese copper statues made?

Nepalese statues and sculptures are best known for their unique small religious figures and ritual paraphernalia for over two thousand years. These are mainly cast in copper alloy. Nepal draws influences from the artistic styles of Buddhism and Hinduism, and therefore the sculptors of the country specialize in making the icons of both these religions. Over the years, Nepalese sculptures evolved into their own distinctive iconography. Some characteristic features of these sculptures that differ from other pieces are exaggerated physical postures, youthful and sensual features, languid eyes, wider faces having serene expressions, and ornate flourishes. The Buddhist deity icons of Nepal have tremendous demand in countries such as China and Tibet for ritual purposes in their temples and monasteries.

Nepalese statues and sculptures have a high copper content and therefore develop a slightly reddish patina on the surface as they age. However, the most unique feature of Nepalese copper statues is their decorative detailing. The pieces are heavily gilded and sometimes inlaid with semi-precious stones. This embellishment protects them from getting tarnished. The traditional lost-wax method for casting Nepalese copper statues remains the most practiced technique in Nepal for many centuries. This process involves many steps and requires skilled artists.

The first step in lost-wax sculpting is to make a wax replica of the desired Buddhist deity to be cast in copper. This replica is created by hand and therefore needs excellent artistic skills otherwise fine features will be lacking.

Once the wax replica is made, it is then coated with a special mixture of clay with a brush. This layer of clay is hardened when left to dry. A small hole is made on the base of the wax mould so that the wax flows away when it is heated.

At this stage, a hollow mould in the shape of the deity is obtained.

This is the time to pour liquid copper into the hollow mould which is then allowed to cool and harden inside a container of cold water. When the liquid metal has hardened, the mould is removed and the statue within is revealed.

The artist works on the details of the statue using various tools. It is then polished to get a shiny and lustrous surface.

Now comes the most important part of Nepalese art which is gold gilding. This is done by the traditional fire gilding method. A mixture of mercury and 18K gold is applied on the surface of the statue and heat is applied using a flame torch. The result is that mercury evaporates along with impurities, leaving a pure 24K gold finish.

The lost-wax method of sculpting is the most preferred technique

for artists to cast a metallic statue having intricate details. Since Nepalese copper sculptures require extraneous effort for giving a majestic look by adding special embellishments, it takes several weeks to complete one masterpiece. A 24K gold gilded copper sculpture retains its brilliant luster for many years and appears as like before. Nepalese sculptures continue to remain one of the finest specimens of the art of the East that have a strong aesthetic appeal that other sculptures cannot match.