Burmese Buddha Maravijaya Shan

Great Buddha in the position of taking the Earth as witness, Burma (Myanmar), late 19th century.
The Enlightened One is depicted in vajrasana, his right hand calling on the Earth goddess to bear witness to his enlightenment and victory over Mara.
Carved wood, black lacquer, gilding and red pigments.
Very good condition.
Provenance: Succession Claude de Marteau.
Sold with certificate of provenance.

In Theravāda Buddhism, particularly in Thailand and as in this case in Burma, the posture of the seated Buddha taking the earth as witness is one of the most emblematic representations of the tradition of the School of the Ancients. This posture, known as bhūmisparśa mudrā (gesture of taking the earth as witness), symbolizes the Buddha's awakening under the Bodhi tree at Bodhgayā.
In Theravāda iconography, this position is omnipresent, particularly in Burmese statues. Buddha is depicted in a meditative posture, legs crossed in the lotus position, his left hand resting on his knees in a gesture of meditation, while his right hand touches the ground with its fingertips. This gesture evokes the moment when Siddhārtha Gautama, faced with the onslaught of the demon Māra, invokes the earth as witness to his merits accumulated over the course of his past lives, as well as his resistance to the temptations aroused by Mara. According to tradition, the earth itself responds by unleashing a flood that sweeps away Māra's forces, thus sealing the Buddha's victory over delusion and his access to enlightenment.
In Thailand, this posture is particularly associated with the iconography of Sukhothai and Rattanakosin-style Buddhas, where it is often depicted with slender forms and a serene expression, accentuating the idea of transcendence and spiritual purity. In Burma, notably in the Mandalay or Konbaung styles, the same posture is omnipresent, but statues often feature more rounded, benevolent facial features, with meticulous details on the folds of the garment and the ornamentation of the base or throne.
This iconography expresses a fundamental aspect of Theravāda Buddhism: the importance of the pāramī (perfections) accumulated by the Buddha through his previous lives and the primacy of karma in the path to enlightenment. Unlike the Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna traditions, where Buddha is often represented in transcendent forms or adorned with esoteric symbols, Theravāda favors a simple, didactic approach, centered on the example of the historical Buddha Gautama. In this way, the posture of taking the earth as witness becomes a constant reminder to devotees of the power of merit and the determination required to attain liberation.
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Ref: 53UKXLB8UF