Statues Buddhist Mudras Bagan Laughing Sitting Buddha Statue
Marble Pagoda Temple Mudra Sculpture Ancient Art Painting.

Buddha statue, Buddha statues, Mudras, mudras,
garden Buddha, statue of Buddha.

- Mudras and the Buddha representation in a statue.

The Buddha is presented and Buddha statues are depicted in several hand and leg postures or gestures, called mudras. Each symbolizing some aspect of the Buddha’s life. The visualization of various mudras has its origin several thousand years ago.

Basically there are four mudras in which Buddha statues or images is depicted, Buddha standing statue is a representation of his descent from heaven after he had gone to preach to his mother.

Buddha walking statue represents him taming the berserk “Nalagiri” elephant sent by his cousin Devadatta to kill him. Buddha seated statue is the most common posture. There are three different seated positions: legs crossed with both feet hidden; legs crossed with feet on thighs and soles turned upward, called the lotus position, and legs straight down.

Buddha reclining statue with his head pointing to the north depicts his death and entry into nirvana. If his head is pointing to any other direction, it represents him sleeping. There are also six symbolic hand mudras, each gesture carrying a distinct meaning.

The Bhumisparsa Mudra is the most common one showing Buddha seated with crossed legs, left hand on his lap, palm upwards, and his right hand on right knee with fingertips touching the ground. This mudra represents Buddha asking Mother Earth to witness his Enlightenment. For Yoga asanas and positions click here.

In the Dhyana Mudra the Buddha statue sits cross-legged with the palm of his right hand in the left palm, and both hands lying in his lap. The event in the life of the Buddha being depicted is indicated by the objects held in the hands or figures flanking the Buddha image.

The Dharmacakra Mudra depicts Buddha with both hands held in front of his breast forming a circle with the middle finger and thumb of his left hand touching the tips of the index finger and thumb of the right. This signifies the Buddha’s first Sermon at Sarnath, India, giving an explanation of the Wheel of Law.

The Abhaya Mudra, shows the right hand raised and the left pointed downward. This represents Buddha promising his followers tranquility, protection and courage if they accept and follow his law.

A statue depicting the Varada Mudra or standing Buddha with arms outstretched in front of his body, palms opened out and the tips of the fingers pointing downwards to the earth. This mudra represents the Buddha blessing his followers.

Dharmacakra Mudra

Bhumisparsa Mudra

The Abhaya Mudra

Dhyana Mudra

Brass Buddha, bronze Buddha

The Abhaya and Varada Mudras show Buddha’s right hand raised as in the Abhaya Mudra and his left hand outstretched as in the Varada Mudra. This mudra portrays Buddha blessing and promising protection to his followers. It also represents his descent to earth after preaching to his mother in heaven.

Today in Myanmar, the specific mudras summarized above, as well as other strict directions and rules must be rigidly followed by all makers of Buddha images and statues.

As religion, art and culture cannot be separated in Myanmar life; these mudras are enacted by Myanmar dancers and form the basis for their positions, gestures, and movements. They also are the basis for the marionettes and mime actors of the pwes

Laughing Buddha Jade

Buddha Standing Figure

A Buddha Statute is usually a creative pieces of art work made from marble, jade, wood or masonry.

A Buddha Statue is a way to express the faith in Buddha via a visual piece of art. Buddha statues almost always come in a realistic depiction its rather seldom in a abstract form. If the Buddha is somehow rendered in a abstract for its almost always a painting. The material to create a beautiful Buddha statue is mainly marble, wood, brass and bronze, if enough money is available a jade Buddha statue could be done, jade Buddha this days are usually created from white and lavender jade, excellent green jade is only used with small statues. Using wood as a material for a Buddha statue is probably the preferred method if details should be show since it is hard to beat wood carvings for this. Reclining Buddha statues are often seen at pagodas and Buddhist monasteries.

A Buddha statue made from wood are also more prominent if a touch of a real detailed depicted art is the target. Various kinds of wood are used to make Buddha statues, there is cheap soft wood and more expensive hard wood such as teak, actually in Myanmar they take almost all the time teak wood to create a beautiful Buddha statue, since teakwood is very durable, sometimes sandalwood and rosewood is used, sandalwood is very expensive and is only used for small figurines.

Marble Buddha statues are also looking good, people even use them as garden Buddha statues, to give a exotic and beautiful touch to the surrounding.

Reclining Buddha Statue

Small marble sitting Buddha