|
The showcased Buddha statue is made of copper with artistic gold polish over face and other regions of the image. This statue portrays the “Bhaishajya Guru”, popularly known as ''Medicine Buddha''. Buddha is sitting on a huge lotus and his right hand is stretched towards ground while in his left hand he has held a pot which contains, according to Buddhist traditions, five kinds of medicines.The 24-karat gold polish on the face is accentuating the overall aesthetic look of the statue. This hand carved statue is copper statue is valuable not only for its aesthetic beauty, but also for its iconographic significance.
About Medicine Buddha
Medicine Buddha is one of many Buddhas who have attained a state of perfect enlightenment for the sake of all sentient beings. He is known as the ''Lord of the Medicaments'' and offers medicinal fruit of Myrabalan with his right hand. While he holds a vessel containing five medicines in his left hand.
He is the harbinger of good health and success. Presence of the ‘usnisa’, elongated ears, along with the vajra reflects the Indian influenced aesthetics transmitted to Tibet via the art of the Nepal valley.
The holy body of Medicine Buddha signifies the omniscient wisdom and compassion as vast as limitless space. This is specially associated with the healing of both mental and physical suffering. The erstwhile Shakyamuni Buddha gave the teachings on healing and systems of medicine. These teachings are collected into the four volumes called “The Four Medicine Tantras”. These teachings have become the basis for the systems of medicine practiced in Tibet and other Buddhist regions.
|