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24" Shakyamuni Buddha in Bhumisparsha Copper Statue from Nepal

$1551.75
$2069
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Shakyamuni Buddha, also recognized as Siddhartha Gautama, bears distinctive features symbolizing his spiritual journey.

 

His elongated earlobes harken back to the prince's former life when he adorned heavy earrings before renouncing his worldly possessions. Atop his head, the ushnisha signifies enlightenment. Seated in the meditative lotus position, with legs crossed and soles turned upward, his posture epitomizes perfect alignment. Draped in a modest monk's robe, which drapes his left shoulder while revealing the right, Shakyamuni extends his right hand to touch the earth. This iconic gesture represents the pivotal moment when he summoned the earth as a witness to his triumph over Mara, the supreme deity of the worldly realm (samsara), who sought to disrupt his meditation. The response, as the earth quivered and trembled, acknowledged Shakyamuni's attainment of Buddhahood.

Specifications
MIT050
Copper with Gold Plated
Height: 24 inch
Width: 19 inch
Depth: 15 inch
Weight 21.60 kg
Delivery and Return Policies
Usually ships in 6 days
Returns and Exchanges accepted within 7 days
Free Delivery
Easy Returns
Easy Returns
Return within 7 days of
order delivery.See T&Cs
Fully Insured
Fully Insured
All orders are fully insured
to ensure peace of mind.
100% Handmade
100% Handmade
All products are
MADE IN INDIA.

The Earth-Touching Gesture: A Symbol of Enlightenment

This exquisite statue depicts Shakyamuni Buddha in the Bhumisparsha mudra, the earth-touching gesture. This profound posture symbolizes the moment of his enlightenment, when he called upon the Earth goddess, Bhumi, to bear witness to his overcoming of Mara, the demon of illusion and temptation. With his right hand resting on his knee, fingertips extended towards the ground, the Buddha asserts his unwavering resolve and the truth of his attainment. This gesture is a powerful reminder of the Buddha's victory over suffering and the ultimate realization of Nirvana.

Craftsmanship from the Himalayas

Hailing from Nepal, a land steeped in spiritual tradition and renowned for its masterful metalwork, this statue is a testament to generations of artistic heritage. Crafted from copper and adorned with resplendent gold plating, the sculpture exudes an aura of divine presence. The rich, earthy tones of the copper provide a grounded warmth, while the gleaming gold accents highlight the sacred details of the Buddha's robes and divine attributes. The intricate detailing on the monastic robe, with its delicate patterns, speaks to the meticulous skill of the Nepalese artisans who brought this vision to life. The serene countenance, with finely chiseled features and tranquil eyes, invites contemplation and reverence.

The Lotus Seat and Divine Presence

The Buddha is seated upon a majestic lotus pedestal, a universally recognized symbol of purity, spiritual growth, and enlightenment in Buddhist iconography. The lotus, which rises from muddy waters to bloom in perfect beauty, represents the Buddha's journey from the earthly realm to the divine. The intricately carved petals of the lotus, rendered in contrasting silver and gold hues, further enhance the regal and spiritual essence of the statue. The multi-tiered base provides a solid foundation, emphasizing the stability and permanence of the Buddha's teachings. This statue is not merely an object of art; it is a sacred vessel designed to inspire devotion and reflection, bringing the peaceful energy of the Buddha into your sacred space.

A Legacy of Peace and Wisdom

Shakyamuni Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, is revered for his teachings on compassion, mindfulness, and the path to liberation from suffering. His life story, from his princely beginnings to his enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, is a narrative of profound spiritual seeking and ultimate wisdom. The Bhumisparsha mudra, as depicted in this statue, is one of the most significant and widely recognized representations of his enlightened state. Bringing this statue into your home or meditation space is an invitation to connect with this profound legacy of peace, wisdom, and spiritual awakening. Its substantial presence and exquisite artistry make it a centerpiece for any collection dedicated to spiritual art and devotion.

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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