Tibetan Gilt Figure of Buddha of Medicine Bhaishajyaguru

£ 1,500.00

A stunning gilt bronze statuette of the Buddha from Tibet. The Medicine Buddha, or Bhaishajyaguru, is portrayed in deep meditation, thought to be a crucial part of the healing process. Sat in the double lotus position,or padmasana, his left hand holds a medicine bowl, while his right touches the earth in a gesture of bhūmisparśamudrā. A mudra is a ritualistic pose or gesture which holds a symbolic meaning in Buddhism. Most mudras are performed with hands and fingers but some also involve the whole body. His robe covers one shoulder and fans out onto the base, featuring intricate incised decoration to the trim. The statuette features a hollow base in order to contain Buddhist relics, which were placed inside before sealing it. Statuettes, such as this beautiful example, were placed in temples and shrines, as a way to accrue the merit needed for good karma in Buddhist religion.

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In two-dimensional formats, the Medicine Buddha is often depicted with bright blue skin, testament to the Buddha’s link to the land of Vaiḍūryanirbhāsa, or “Pure Lapis Lazuli”. As part of the Buddha’s journey as a bodhisattva, he made 12 great vows on healing and medical care, uniting ideas about corporeal, mental and spiritual health that remain relevant to this day. Most of the bronzes that remain to us were originally commissioned and dedicated by the wealthy patrons of the various temples where they would have been placed so as to accrue the good karma needed to break the cycle of samsara in the Buddhist religion. In the art of Tibet can be seen also the influences of the nations that surround the region, including Chinese, Indian and Nepalese styles.

To discover more about Tibetan Buddhist artistic production, please visit our relevant blog post: Tibetan Buddhist Bronzes.