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Shakyamuni Buddha was born with the name of Siddhartha Gautam, also known as Gautam Buddha. He was brought into the world in Lumbini, Nepal, close to the Indian border, in the Terai region. He is deemed one of the most important and powerful Asian intellectuals and divine masters of all time, and he made major contributions to several disciplines of philosophy, such as epistemology, metaphysics, and morality.
The Buddha's doctrines established the foundation for Buddhist philosophy which also originated in South Asia and spread throughout the rest of Asia later. Buddhism and Buddhist ideology are now widespread throughout the world.
In metaphysics, the Buddha affirms that there aren't any self-caused structures and that everything emerges from or completely relies upon something else. This empowers the Buddha to offer a critical analysis of spirits and self-identity, which provides the basis for his perspectives on the truth of reincarnation and a supreme emancipated state known as "Nirvana."
Nirvana is not an ultimate truth over and above the universe, instead, it is a special state of consciousness that occurs when all of the causes and conditions that lead to reincarnation and hardship have been eliminated.
Bhumisparsha (Earth Touching) Mudra, is the reminiscence of the Buddha’s awakening underneath the bodhi tree. Once he decided to call out the earth goddess, Sthavara, to call attention to his accomplishment of nirvana. It is formed by widening all five fingers of the dominant hand to reach the ground.
The left hand, managed to keep flat in the lap in the dhyana mudra of spiritual practice, symbolizes the alliance of technique and knowledge and understanding, samsara and enlightenment, as well as revelations of traditional and supreme realities, and is employed to augment the dominant hand in earth-pressing mudra.
In Buddhism and other Indian religious faiths, the Abhaya Mudra portrayed by the Blessing Buddha- the "valiant expression" is a mudra or the symbolic act of affirmation and security that debunks dread and confers divine blessings and contentment.
In this mudra, both hands are placed in the lap, with the right hand resting on top of the left, and the thumbs lightly touching to form a triangle. This gesture symbolizes meditation, concentration, and the attainment of spiritual perfection.
The Mahaparinirvana Buddha in his final passing away, entered Nirvana after his death. The depiction is known as the “Reclining Buddha” and is often shown lying on his right side with his head resting on a cushion or his right elbow. It symbolizes the Buddha’s liberation from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, achieving ultimate enlightenment.
Bhaisajyaguru (Medicine Master and King of Lapis Lazuli Light) commonly known as Medicine Buddha, is described as a doctor who cures suffering using the medicine of his teachings. He is typically shown seated while wearing three robes of Buddhist monks, holding a lapis-colored jar of medicines nectar in his left hand and the right hand resting on his right knee, holding the stem of the Aruna fruit or Myrobalan between thumb and forefinger.
Dharmachakra Mudra (Wheel of Dharma) or the gesture of Preaching is a remembrance of an important episode of Buddha, where Buddha's first sermons were preached after his enlightenment in Deer Park.
In this mudra, the thumb and index finger of both hands touch at their tips to form a circle. This circle represents the Wheel of Dharma, or in metaphysical terms, the union of method and wisdom. The three remaining fingers of the two hands remain extended.
Vitarka mudra is similar to Varada and Abhaya mudra, but it is done by joining the index and thumb together, which signifies the constant flow of energy or teaching.
Vitarka mudra is a common gesture among the Buddha statues from Dvāravatī ages in Thailand. This mudra is also sometimes, substituted for Dharmachakra Mudra. Also called "The Gesture of Debate" or "discussion" mudra, Vitarka mudra can be seen in the sitting and standing Buddha statues.
The figurine ought to always be looking east. Consider placing it in the North-East direction to enhance the corner's power.
Buddhists do not have faith in any divinity or god, despite the existence of mythical creatures who can assist or impede people on one‘s journey towards enlightenment. The Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, began life as a prince.
But upon maturing, he decided to venture out beyond his palace walls to understand the world. It was there that he saw four things that shook him out of his life of easy luxury.
These would come to be known as the four sights: an old man who taught the prince about aging, a sick person who taught him of disease, a dead body who taught him about the inevitability of death, and finally an ascetic who taught him of a potential way out of this suffering.
Siddhartha then set out to reach enlightenment, which he finally did while sitting under the Bodhi tree. It was there that he came to understand the Four Noble Truths: that suffering is inherent to existence, that this suffering comes from desire, that desire can be let go, and that the Noble Eightfold Path is the way to accomplish this.
He went on to teach the world about the nature of suffering and the way to escape it. No spiritual teacher has led more people out of the cycle of rebirth than the Buddha.
Such a powerful and important Bodhisattva deserves the finest works of art devoted to him. That is why Exotic India’s collection of brass statues of Buddha are made by the finest artisans, achieving the highest levels of aesthetic quality.
Lord Buddha is the universally recognized source of spiritual aura that purifies any space. This is why all kinds of Buddha statues are considered good for home. The only caution one must keep in mind is to avoid placing a Buddha statue in certain places of your home, as prescribed by Vastu experts.
A Buddha statue must never be kept under the staircase, in the laundry room, storeroom, or any other space where dust is collected. In all the other places of your household where there is ample light and spaciousness, you can keep the Buddha statue of your choice and attain positive vibrations.
Keeping the statue of Lord Buddha or Gautama Buddha is considered very auspicious and is believed to bring peace, tranquility, and prosperity into our lives. There are many guidelines followed as per Vastu for keeping and placing statues. The living room or any place near the main entrance of the house is considered the ideal place for placing the Buddha statue. It is also necessary to keep it above the eye-level.
Lord Buddha is considered the embodiment of peace, compassion, and enlightenment. Therefore, keeping His statue at home is very auspicious as it is believed to bring prosperity and tranquility into our lives.
This is why many people of different cultural beliefs and traditions keep the Buddha statue in the living room facing the main entrance of the house. It is a call for all the positivity inside the house, therefore, keeping away the negative energy.
The Buddhist scriptures mention names and descriptions of many Buddhas. The Pali literature of Theravada Buddhism, which is practiced by the majority of people in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, etc., talks of twenty-nine Buddhas. The 29th Buddha, Metteya/Maitreya, is described as the future Buddha who will appear on Earth as the successor of Gautama Buddha and will teach Pure Dharma.
While, according to Tantric Vajrayana or Tantric Buddhism, there are five primary Buddhas, known as “Five Tathagathas”. These include Vairochana, Aksobhya, Ratnasambhava, Amitabha, and Amoghasiddhi.
There are different forms of Buddha that are associated with different mudras or poses, having their own significance. The Meditating form of Buddha is associated with enlightenment in which he is seen sitting cross-legged, his hands resting on the lap, and his eyes half-way or fully closed.
These gestures of the body are significant for being mindful in meditation. This calm and serene form of Buddha inspires everybody to follow the principles of the Dharma and to be freed from the cycle of repeated births and deaths.
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