Lord Buddha in Bhumisparsha Mudra

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Name: Lord Buddha in Bhumisparsha Mudra
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: XH44
Price: 285.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$328

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Specifications

	XH44
	Copper Sculpture Gilded with 24 Karat Gold
	Height: 13 inch
	Width: 8 inch
	Depth: 5.5 inch
	Weight 930 gm

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Fully Insured

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100% Handmade

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MADE IN INDIA.

Touching the Earth: A Moment of Enlightenment

Behold the serene depiction of the Buddha, a stunning testament to the moment of his enlightenment. Crafted with meticulous detail from copper and lavishly adorned with 24-karat gold, this sculpture is a radiant embodiment of spiritual awakening. The intricate craftsmanship, reflecting the rich artistic heritage of Nepal, captures the peaceful visage of the Buddha, inviting contemplation and tranquility. The piece showcases the Buddha in the *Bhumisparsha Mudra*, one of the most iconic and significant hand gestures in Buddhist iconography. This mudra, literally meaning "touching the earth," symbolizes the Buddha's moment of enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. It represents his unwavering resolve and his calling upon the earth goddess, Sthavara, to witness his victory over Mara, the demon of illusion.

The Legend of Bhumisparsha

The story behind the *Bhumisparsha Mudra* is central to the Buddha's journey to enlightenment. As Siddhartha Gautama sat beneath the Bodhi tree, Mara unleashed his armies of demons, temptations, and doubts to thwart his quest. Mara challenged Siddhartha's right to attain enlightenment, demanding proof of his worthiness. In response, Siddhartha reached down and touched the earth with his right hand. This gesture was a call to the earth goddess Sthavara, who emerged to testify to Siddhartha's countless lifetimes of merit and virtue. The earth roared in confirmation, and Mara's forces scattered, vanquished by the power of truth and unwavering commitment. The *Bhumisparsha Mudra* thus represents not just the moment of enlightenment, but also the triumph over adversity and the unshakable foundation of truth. The serene expression of the Buddha radiates compassion and wisdom, a gentle reminder of the potential for enlightenment within each of us. The hand positioned with fingers extended towards the earth is a visual representation of this powerful narrative. The fine details throughout the robe and headdress show the talent of the artists that created it. The use of 24-karat gold lends a lustrous, otherworldly quality to the sculpture, enhancing its spiritual significance. It is a powerful reminder of the transformative potential of unwavering focus and dedication to truth. This sculpture serves as a tangible connection to the Buddha's enlightenment, encouraging reflection and fostering inner peace.

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.