Buddha Statues: Transcending Personal & Societal Boundaries With Peace

There are many religions in this world and way more gods and goddesses that provide spiritual and mundane guidelines to their followers. But only a few of these, and that too rarely, succeed in transcending the boundaries of their sect or country or demographics and influence the thoughts of their followers. One of such rare exceptions is Lord Gautam Buddha, or The Buddha. 

Lord Buddha is not only worshipped by theists across the world, but is also equally praised and followed by theists across the world as a guide to happiness and well being. As such, Buddha statues are not only popular among Buddhists or religious figures, but they are also equally liked and preferred by non-followers. 

Depending on what you are seeking, Buddha statues are considered objects representing peace, wisdom, hope and spiritual direction. These statues have inspired billions of people all across the world and cultures to explore harmony, enlightenment and balance. These statues are not only considered objects of spirituality but also of artistic beauty, serenity and worldly reality. They are part of temples, stupas, homes, hospitals, commercial centers, aviation hubs, corporate houses, among others.

When it comes to Buddha statuses, Nepal holds a special place as it is the birthplace of prince Siddharth Gautam - the one who became the enlightened one, The Buddha. Nepal, as a bowl for cultural amalgamation that is influenced by Tibetan Buddishm and Hinduism, holds special importance for the lore and practices around Buddhism. It is home to Newar artisans that have been sculpting and crafting objects of spiritual importance for Buddhism. The Newari artisans have excelled in the art of making these statues for generations. These artisans use their expertise, dedication and devotion to craft statues that not only demonstrates the Buddhist principles but also give expressions to inner teachings of the Buddha in ways that even theists and non-Buddhist can apprehend and correlate with. 

The Buddha & Mudras 

Before becoming The Buddha, Siddharth Gautam was a prince born in Lumbini, Nepal. Touched by the sufferings around him, he sought out causes that inflicted pain and sufferings to humans around it. And this search for answers ultimately made him the enlightened one - The Buddha. 

Post enlightenment, he started sharing his knowledge to his disciples and that formed the basis of Buddhism. These teachings focused on kindness, harmony and inner peace as pathways to break away from the cycle of birth and death. Meditation is one of such pathways where a soul strives for inner peace and enlightenment. And Mudras are one of the core aspects of meditation.

What Are Mudras?

Mudras are the symbolic hand indications used in the Buddhist Statues that represent the teaching and spiritual principles of Buddhism. The word “Mudra” comes from the Sanskrit word “mudra” which means gesture and these moments are frequently used in the Buddhist rituals, meditations as a way to communicate the teachings of Lord Buddha.

In Buddha statues, mudras hold more significance than just decorative pieces. Each mudras express an idea towards uplifting one’s soul towards enlightenment. They are part of Buddha’s own journey to wisdom and are therefore passed on to followers to assist them on their path to peace and enlightenment. While there are many mudras in Buddhism, here are some mudras that are popular across various sects of Buddhism.

Dharmachakra Mudra

This mudra displays the Buddha with his hand shaped like a round wheel, displaying the turning wheel of Dharma and expansion of his teaching to more people.

Spiritual Lesson: Promote understanding and sharing the valuable information for the benefits of humankind.

 

Dhyana Mudra

In this mudra, both hands are placed on the lap, facing front, reflecting the composure, focus and harmony in mind.

Spiritual Lesson: Boosts attention and journey of inner reflection and self-understanding.

Abhaya Mudra

In this mudra, Buddha’s hand is lifted with the palm facing outward, reflecting security and comfort. 

Spiritual Lesson: Provides power and feeling of safety to those who seek help.

Varada Mudra

The Varada mudra is where Buddha’s left hand faces downward, expressing giving, love and kindness towards everyone. 

Spiritual Lesson: Encourages helping everyone and showing kindness to all. 

 

The Allure of Buddha Statues 

Depending on how a person defines themselves, they will have different opinions about a Buddha statue. Some may connect it with faith, some with devotion and some with harmony. But one feeling that almost everyone gets from it is that they will feel at peace. Because of this, Buddha statues are more than decorative items as they provide you with peace and help you feel calm.

Buddhist statues are special means of connecting with Buddhist philosophy. They represent  kindness, tolerance and mindfulness in day-to-day life. For some they are objects of serene and transcendental beauty, making them the favourite choice for home decor and meditation practices. The detailing of Buddha statues and its mudras inspire not only spiritual practitioners but also art lovers.  

Regardless of how an individual views a Buddha statue, in essence it represents Buddha’s teaching: be compassionate and love others; and strive for inner peace, clarity and emancipation. It not only represents these basic tenets of Buddhism, a Buddha statue also acts as a means to achieve these goals. Here are some benefits of having Buddha statue in your surrounding: 

1. Encourage Awareness and Meditation: Buddha Statues are considered one of the most powerful tools for progressing in meditation practice. Their calm face and mudras, help a meditator ground themselves and focus on their inner thoughts and immediate surroundings assisting them to alleviate from their day to day concerns. It helps calm down and focus on the ultimate goal of achieving meditative bliss.
   
   
2. Facilitate Personal Growth: Being in the vicinity of a Buddha statue provides you with a visual queue to focus on deeper aspects of your life. It helps you to shift your focus on important aspects of your life. Things that matter you the most. It encourages contemplation and reflection on a daily basis ultimately acting as your personal guide to subtly help you explore your relationships, values and the purpose of your life. Because of this self awareness, it helps individuals walk on path to mindfulness and fulfilment in their endeavours.
   
   
3. Balance and Positivity: So far, one thing is clear - Buddha’s presence ushers in peace and tranquility in the surrounding. As such a Buddha statue in a home, work space or commercial centers like hospital or airports or meditation, helps bring harmony and tranquility into any environment. Its presence encourages individuals to denounce inner turmoil and embrace inner peace. Its calming influence makes it an ideal addition to any surroundings. 
   
   
4. Universal Appeal: Buddhism is based on the principle of attaining peace within, not externally. It encourages individuals to find meaning and purpose in their lives and to do it focuses on universal actions of love and compassion. As such, these tenets are almost universal in appeal. The symbolism of a Buddha statue expresses these qualities and these messages resonate with almost everyone across the world. It represents universal values that align with people from every walk of life, country or religion. 

Buddha Statues and Newari Artisans 

In this world, there are only a few souls among us that are only second to Gods, when it comes to creating. Artists are one of these few human beings that not only express the abstract but also provide it a physical form that can represent the thought in its entirety. The Newari artisans are one of the most renowned groups of artisans across the world that create world-class artefacts. 

As practicing Buddhists and Hindus, these artisans are not only learned in the teachings of Buddhas but also embody the centuries-old skills and craftsmanship of handcrafting Buddha statues and expressing the teachings of Buddha in physical forms.

Their work isn’t limited to craftsmanship; for them it's a spiritual path. Each statue handcrafted by these master craftsmen shows their passion for Buddhist teaching and ideals. It is also their contribution to the legacy of their ancestors to pass on the learnings of Buddhism and in protecting this ancient art form. By mixing the tradition, cultures and faith, these artisans craft statues that are not only magnificent but also help them connect with their roots and purpose in life.

The making process of Buddha statues starts with picking the high quality raw materials such as copper, bronze or any other mix of metals, guaranteeing both longevity and visual elegance. The Newari artisans will carefully create a shape of the statue using lost-wax method.This is a traditional technique passed down from one generation to another. The important details like facial expressions and hand gestures (mudras) are carved by hand, taking weeks to complete.

The next process is polishing where skilled Newari artisans refine the surface to increase its beauty. They also apply a patina or gilding using gold leaf to enhance it with a luminous and sacred look. Some statues are also hand-printed with organic natural dyes, adding beautiful colors to increase their spiritual importance.