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 A
statue (paṭimā) is a figure of a person or animal in
metal, stone or some other substance. Buddha statues are not,
as is sometimes supposed, idols but representations of the Buddha
meant to act as an object of contemplation or a focus of attention.
The first Buddha statues were made in India in about the 2nd
century CE, perhaps due to Greek influence. Before that time, the
Buddha was represented by a wheel, a Bodhi Tree, a pair
of footprints or an empty throne. It is sometimes said that for
several centuries it was 'forbidden' to make statues of the Buddha,
but this is incorrect. Statues of the Buddha were not made simply
because iconographic skills had not developed to a high enough level.
Buddha statues are either standing, sitting or lying down. The lying
statues, often mistakenly called 'the sleeping Buddha' actually
depict the Buddha's passing away or resting. The hands of Buddha
statues are usually shown in one of several gestures (mudrā),
the most common being the gesture of meditation, of
fearlessness, of teaching and the earth-touching gesture. On the top
of the statue's head is usually a flame - sometimes realistically
depicted, sometimes highly stylised - meant to suggest a halo.
Buddhists place flowers, lights and incense
before Buddha statues to honour the Buddha's memory and as reminders
of fleeting beauty, the light of knowledge and the fragrance of
virtue respectively. Although much popular superstition surrounds
Buddha statues, particularly in Thailand, no informed Buddhist
believes that they are anything more than symbols of the
enlightened person in material form. See Idolatry. | |
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