Bhumisparsha Buddha

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Name: Bhumisparsha Buddha
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: ZO78
Price: 95.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$109

Includes any tariffs and taxes

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Specifications

	ZO78
	Copper Sculpture gilded with 24 Karat Gold
	Height: 5.3 inch
	Width: 3.5 inch
	Depth: 2.5 inch
	Weight 1 kg

Delivery and Return Policies

	Returns and Exchanges accepted within 7 days
	Free Delivery

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Return within 7 days of
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Fully Insured

All orders are fully insured
to ensure peace of mind.

100% Handmade

All products are
MADE IN INDIA.

The Moment of Enlightenment

This radiant sculpture captures a pivotal moment in the life of Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha – the instant of his enlightenment. It depicts him seated in a meditative pose, his left hand resting in his lap in the dhyana mudra of meditation, while his right hand reaches down to touch the earth. This gesture, known as the Bhumisparsha mudra, translates to "earth-witnessing" and symbolizes the Buddha calling upon the earth goddess, Sthavara, to witness his enlightenment and vanquish the demon Mara.

The Legend of Mara

As Siddhartha sat beneath the Bodhi tree, determined to break the cycle of suffering and achieve enlightenment, Mara, the lord of illusion and death, recognized the threat to his realm. Mara launched a relentless assault, unleashing armies of demons, seductive daughters, and terrifying storms to disrupt Siddhartha's meditation. But Siddhartha remained unyielding, his resolve unshaken. In the face of Mara's final attempt to claim dominion over the throne of enlightenment, Siddhartha reached down and touched the earth. The earth itself roared in affirmation, attesting to the countless lifetimes of virtue and sacrifice that had led to this moment. Mara and his legions were defeated, and Siddhartha Gautama became the Buddha, the Enlightened One.

Craftsmanship and Symbolism

Crafted from copper and meticulously gilded with 24-karat gold, this sculpture radiates a warm, inviting light. The gold finish, traditionally associated with royalty and divinity, signifies the Buddha's elevated status and the transformative power of his teachings. The serene expression on the Buddha's face conveys the peace and wisdom he attained. Every detail, from the intricate folds of his robe to the delicate features of his face, is rendered with exceptional skill and reverence. The statue sits upon a lotus pedestal, representative of spiritual purity, love and compassion.

Placement and Intention

This statue serves as a powerful reminder of the potential for enlightenment that resides within each of us. It is more than just a decorative object; it is a symbol of awakening, resilience, and the triumph of good over evil. Place it in your meditation space, home altar, or any area where you seek inspiration and tranquility. Its compact size makes it ideal for smaller spaces without sacrificing the grandeur of its message. It serves as a powerful focal point for meditation, reflection, and contemplation, guiding you toward inner peace and understanding. Invite the energy of enlightenment into your life with this beautiful and meaningful piece.

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.