The pictorial representation of Buddha statue is known as Buddharupa. Literally meaning of ‘Buddharupa’ is the forms of enlightened Buddha depicting its way of conveying messages. Siddhartha Gautam, a prince, had undergone severe suffering so he bent upon to preach the message of the Nirvana to the people. The Nirvana is a state of attainment of highest degree of spiritual insight which free a person from cycle of birth, suffering. Buddhists believe that Nirvana is a way to get rid of all-powerful desires by adopting Buddha’s eight-fold path.

Buddha’s eight-fold path conveys the messages to spread peace and code of behavior to the people. The statues teach to control incongruent emotions and free the mind from negative feelings like greed, jealousy etc. At the places, where the people are not able to grasp the Buddha messages by literature, due to lack of literacy, Buddha statues convey the messages to the masses by a process called ‘positioning of statues’. Followers of Lord Buddha believe that by worshipping various forms of Buddha statues or Buddharupas, they are respecting Lord Buddha himself. Buddhists respect their lord by offering flowers, bowing in front of Buddharupa.

Buddha’s statues are found in various forms. The statues are presented in different postures and positions to convey the Buddha’s messages of Nirvana to the people effectively. The most worshipped statue is the Laughing or Smiling Buddha.

Buddha’s messages are conveyed by hand gestures. The hands have been chosen as everyone uses their hands to communicate to other people. Buddha’s statues have seven common hand gestures. DHAMMACAKKA is the first sermon of Lord Buddha. In this ‘mudra’ hands are raised in front of chest, while clinching the thumb and forefingers of both hands. Second positions of Buddha’s statue is ABHAYAMUDRA means fearlessness and kindness. In this mudra, right hand is raised to level of shoulder while palm facing opposite. Third position of mudra is called Right Hand BUMISPARA. Bumispara is made of two words Bumi and spara, Bumi means earth and spara means indicating towards. In this mudra right hand is extended towards the earth god, palm facing towards self and the fingers reaching below knee.

The next position of statue is called VARADA means generosity. In this position, hand is extended towards the earth while palm is kept open and outward. This position of Buddha’s statue shows generosity. VITARKA is next position of the statues, which means teaching. Vitarka position is a method of teaching to attain Lord Buddha. In this mudra the hand is raised while thumb is touching forefinger.

Dhyana is a position of meditation, where legs are placed crossed above one another and the hands are place quietly into lap of legs. The word Dhyana is derived from pali language ‘jhana’ means meditation.

Last position of Buddha’s statue is known as ANJALI means resepect & greeting In this mudra, both the hands are raised in front the heart while palms touching each other. Anjali mudra is the Buddha’s way of respecting and welcoming.

We at www.himalayacrafts.com carry wide collection of selected Buddha statues & figurines in different materials like brass, stone, resin, wood, and copper in different sizes and positions of Buddha for online shopping made by qualified and experienced craftsmen from Nepal and Tibetan people living in Nepal. If you want additional information or buy Buddhist Sculptures in wholesale simply send us a mail at sales@himalayacrafts.com.

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