$550.00
This is a lovely decorative object that emanates real peace and tranquility.
Carved wooden Buddha in the Calling Earth to Witness Mudra. Painted in gold, this statue would have originally been the centrepiece of a shrine in a family home, probably in Thailand or Cambodia. Difficult to accurately age but certainly early 20th or even 19th century. Professionally mounted in recent times.
Complete with the stand its height is 360 m. Width 130 mm. Depth 80 mm.
"Touching the earth" refers to the Buddha's pointing towards the earth to summon the Earth Goddess to come to his assistance in obtaining enlightenment by witnessing to his past good deeds.
The posture refers to an important event in the life of the Buddha. The Buddha-to-be was meditating under a Bodhi tree. Just before reaching enlightenment Mara the demon arrived accompanied by his armies and his three beautiful daughters. Mara’s armies attacked the Buddha while his attractive young daughters tried to distract and seduce the Buddha in order to stop him from meditating and reaching enlightenment.
The Buddha-to-be touched the Earth with his right hand, calling upon Mother Earth to be his witness. The earth Goddess Phra Mae Thorani appeared in the shape of a young, beautiful woman. By wringing the waters out of her long hair she drowned the armies of Mara, allowing the Buddha to continue meditating and reaching enlightenment. The story is seen depicted in murals in a great number of temples across Thailand.