Ancient Buddhist art was started in present-day India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. The time was a few centuries after Lord Buddha lived in this land, 6th to 5th century BCE. Buddhist art is a sacred illustration created in the context of Buddhism. The famous arts include portrayals of Gautama Buddha and other bodhisattvas. Prominent Buddhist sculptures, both historical and mythical, narrate backgrounds from their lives. Besides, Mandala art and other physical objects related to the practice of Buddhism are equally popular. Some of these sacred objects are vajras, bells, stupas, and Buddhist temple architecture.
According to Indian tradition, statues and icons do not only possess aesthetic value, representing the image of an idol. They are also, in fact, a physical vessel that carries with it the intangible qualities of the idol. The Indian ceremony of Pran-pratishtha recognizes the bequeathal of life on the lifeless icon of an idol. However, long before the ceremony, from the moment the craftsman begins to create the statue, the sacred process of bestowing both the physical and spiritual attributes of an icon begins. The beauty of statues, such as the Buddha head statue, is in both the accurate representation of physical features and in the artistic interpretation of the idol’s spirit.
Gautama Buddha led an extraordinary life, leaving behind a pathway to liberation that is practical and action-oriented. What sages for thousands of years were saying in grand prose, the Buddha was able to distill into simple fables and easy to understand protocols that work to bring us out of the cycle of Samsara. As Buddhism reached across the globe, many adherents have made astounding art depicting the Buddha. And with so much variety, you might be wondering about different Buddha statue meanings. There are so many kinds of statues of this great teacher available — especially on such a large platform like Exotic India - that it’s worth taking the time to learn a bit about each. We’ve produced this helpful guide to help you understand the Buddha statues you see. As with any religious art, every detail is specifically meant to give new insights into the truth about existence and our place in it.
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