Laos, 17th century, Maravijaya Buddha in bronze

Laos
17th century
Bronze
29 x 19.5 cm
Nice old patina
Private collection

Maravijaya Buddha from Laos in bronze with old patina. He is represented seated in the sattvaparyanka position on a pedestal decorated with a row of vertical double spiral motifs, his right hand resting on his knee in bumisparsha mudra, his fingers pointing to the ground, his left hand placed in his lap, his palm facing the sky. The massive body with broad shoulders and a powerful chest swollen with vital breath is clothed in samgathi, the monastic robe, pressed against the body and leaving the right shoulder uncovered, with a long piece of the cloth coming down in a straight line to the navel. The emaciated face has large almond-shaped eyes with half-closed eyelids expressing great interiority. The eagle's beak nose surmounts a fine mouth sketching a slight smile, the latter overhanging a small prognathic chin. The hairstyle is made up of a multitude of small spikes that draw a delicate V at the hairline, the top of the skull receiving the usnisa from which a flamed ornament springs. The ears with lobes distended by the weight of the ornaments symbolize the royal origin of the Buddha.

The representation of our Buddha is part of the classical images of the canons of Buddhist statuary and refers to a particular episode in the life of the Awakened One. The latter being close to attaining enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, Mara, the god of unfulfilled desires, tries to distract the Blessed One and claims the throne of enlightenment for himself. Faced with the repeated assaults of Mara, the Buddha remains impassive and by this symbolic gesture, takes the Earth as witness of his will to reach complete Enlightenment.

Ref: AAEOFCO00N