A representation of Buddha Shakyamuni’s Sambhogakaya (body of enjoyment), this Nepalese Buddha gilded copper statue depicts him as the “Chakravartin”- world ruler. The “Sambhogakaya” belongs to the idea of “Trikaya” (three transcendental forms) of the Enlightened One in the Buddhist tradition. Endowed with the most wonderful royal ornaments and sitting meditatively, this gilded icon of the Buddha embodies the zenith of the greatness of the Enlightened One as well as the Nepalese tradition of sculptures.
The first element in the Nepalese Buddha statue that catches the eye is the imposing gold crown, studded with enchanting red and turquoise stones and decorated with Chhepu, the Nepalese form of the Hindu Kiritimukha (face of glory). In the lower section of the regal crown, a symmetrical row of stones runs parallel to a single line of the Buddha’s coiled hair, framing his alluring visage. The torso of this Nepalese copper Buddha statue is embellished with a superb armor of gold, in the center of which is engraved a conch shell, one of the Eight Buddhist auspicious signs or “Ashtamangala”. Buddha’s divine limbs are delineated in this skillfully, with an animation felt in his polished hands and feet. His right hand dangles elegantly in the “Bhumi-sparsha” mudra, a gesture associated with the Buddha’s victory over the demon of basal desires, Mara, while in his left hand on his lap, he carries an alms bowl.
Under his armor, the Buddha wears a golden robe decorated with a criss-cross pattern and gemstone studded floral motif. Donning the twin attire of a king and a monk, this crowned Buddha icon proclaims the Enlightened One’s mastery over the human and metaphysical arenas. On the reverse of this Nepalese Buddha icon, one can appreciate Shakyamuni’s coiled hair, the delicate chain of his gold armor, and a majestic dragon symbolizing his enlightened state. The crowned Chakaravrtin rests on a jeweled lotus throne embellished with tiny stones.
With the stylized urna (symbolic third-eye), thin eyebrows, inward-looking yet steady eyes, shapely nose, and lips that carry the softness of a fresh lotus blossom, this crowned Buddha icon is an artistic gem. Resplendent with features that hold all the beauty of the world and impeccable gilding work done by skilled Nepalese craftsmen, this crowned Buddha is an example of the aesthetic achievements of Nepalese-Tibetan Buddhist art, which through a painstaking process produces gilded icons that glow with the aura of Bodhi.
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