The Supreme Attributes of Enlightenment

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

The treatment of the hair is according to the Buddhist tradition. Gautama, after his departure from the palace, drew forth his sword and cut off his long hair. The early Buddhist text Mahavastu mentions that the hair of the Siddhartha was cut off by the gods and carried to the Trayatrimsa heaven, where it was worshipped as a sacred relic. It is also said that they also carried away his turban. The short locks, following the tradition, are curled from left to right in the shape of snail-shell. In China and Japan they sometimes take the form of round beads or sharp spikes.

The representation of the Buddha must always have either the chignon or the protuberance on the skull which is presumably the seat of the manas or living mind (soul) of the Buddha.

This protuberance (ushnisha) is the first and most important of the thirty-two superior signs of a Buddha and probably last acquired. In the Indian Buddhist texts and its manifestations in art, the Buddha at his birth or in the different episodes of his life before his Enlightenment, is not represented with the protuberance of the skull. It is not until he attained the Buddhahood under the Bodhi-tree that he is represented with the full-sized ushanisha. Some say that the ushnisha means 'turban', dressed hair. According to a Buddhist tradition followed by Indian artists, the hair of the Buddha should be in short curls falling from left to right and the protuberance should also be covered with the curls. The shape of the ushnisha varied somewhat in different countries. The ushnisha of the Nepalese Buddhas is sometimes surmounted by a ball (jewel) from which issues a flame. According to a tradition the Buddha caused to issue from his head a flood of glory composed of a hundred precious rays. In Tibet the ushnisha if often surmounted by a flaming pearl (Jewel or cintamani). It is also said that the protuberance of the skull is a sign of supernatural wisdom of a Buddha. Some scholars opine that the ushanisha was basically a coil of hair, which later took the form of a protuberance on the skull.

The artist has bestowed ample attention on the face too - its treatment is soft, simple and abstract, and this has given it a graceful mellowness. The lotus-petal shaped half-closed eyes and the disproportionate (the lower being the thicker) lips, imply a delicate smile. The facial expression is expressing an inner experience of purity, compassion (karuna) and wisdom (prajna) - the supreme attributes of Enlightenment.

The face is round and has slight pointed chin, and the whole composition is placed on a beautiful. two layered lotus.

Free Shipping. Delivered by to all international destinations within 3 to 5 days, fully insured.

Sculpting Serenity: Unveiling the Art of Crafting Wood Statues

Wood has been a preferred material for sculptures and statues since ancient times. It is easy to work with than most metals and stones and therefore requires less effort to shape it into any desired shape or form. The texture of the wood gives an element of realism to the sculpture. The selection of an appropriate wood type is necessary for carving. Woods that are too resinous or coniferous are not considered good for carving as their fiber is very soft and thus lacks strength. On the other hand, wood such as Mahogany, Oakwood, Walnut wood, Weet cherry wood, etc., are preferred by sculptors because their fiber is harder. A wood sculptor uses various tools such as a pointed chisel in one hand and a mallet in another to bring the wood to the desired measurement and to make intricate details on it. A carving knife is used to cut and smooth the wood. Other tools such as the gouge, V-tool, and coping saw also serve as important tools in wood carving. Although the wood carving technique is not as complex and tough as stone carving or metal sculpting, nonetheless, a wood carver requires a high level of skills and expertise to create a stunning sculpture.

1. Selecting the right wood

The process of wood carving begins with selecting a chunk of wood that is required according to the type and shape of the statue to be created by the sculptor. Both hardwoods and softwoods are used for making artistic pieces, however, hardwoods are preferred more than softer woods because of their durability and longevity. But if heavy detailing is to be done on the statue, wood with fine grain would be needed as it would be difficult to work with hardwood.

2. Shaping the wood

Once the wood type is selected, the wood carver begins the general shaping process using gouges of various sizes. A gouge is a tool having a curved cutting edge which is useful in removing large unwanted portions of wood easily without splitting the wood. The sculptor always carves the wood across the grain of the wood and not against it.

3. Adding detailing

When a refined shape of the statue is obtained, it is time for making details on the statue using different tools. This is achieved by using tools such as a veiner to make and a V-tool to create decorative and sharp cuts.

4. Surface finishing

Once finer details have been added, the sculptor is ready to smoothen the surface and give it a perfect finish. Tools such as rasps and rifflers are used to get a smooth surface. The finer polishing is obtained by rubbing the surface with sandpaper. If a textured surface is required, this step is skipped. Finally, to protect the statue from excessive dirt accumulation, the sculptor applies natural oils such as walnut or linseed oil all over it. This also brings a natural sheen to the statue.