Buddha Shakyamuni

Historical Significance :- Shakyamuni Buddha is a name given to Gautama Buddha, who lived from 566 to 485 BCE in central north India. This name has been specifically coined to distinguish the historical Buddha from the general meaning of the word ‘Buddha’, which means ‘the awakened one’. In Buddhist doctrine, any such enlightened individual is technically a Buddha. Thus, when someone refers to Shakyamuni it means that he is referring to the historical personality known as Siddhartha, son of Suddhodhana and his queen Maya, who became the Buddha on achieving enlightenment. The word Shakyamuni means the sage of the Shakyas, the latter being the name of Buddha’s clan, which ruled over the Republic of Kapilavastu. Cultural Signififcance :- The images of Buddha, which were made in Nepal and Tibet in the 11th-12th century A.D., were greatly influenced by the iconography of the Kashmir region. This was mainly because the Tibetan Buddhist monk Rinchen Sangpo (958-1055 CE), who visited the University of Vikramashila, returned with several Kashmiri artists who influenced the art of Nepal and Tibet. This gave rise to a new style which was an amalgamation of the Kashmiri and the Nepalese styles. Artistic Significance :- "The image is identified by the inscription on its pedestal as Shakyasimha, the historical Buddha. Buddha is depicted seated on a double lotus pedestal. In his right hand, he is holding a pot and his left hand is in bhumisparsha mudra, or the earth-touching pose, suggesting the time of the attack of Mara, the temptress. He touched the earth as he called upon the Earth Goddess to testify to his austerities and meditation. The vajra or thunderbolt identifying the Vajrayana sect is placed in front. He is clad in a plain monastic robe or the sanghati. His eyes show marks of being inlaid, which is due to either Kashmiri or eastern Indian influence. An interesting and unusual feature is his halo or the Prabha, which has a representation of nine goddesses in nine medallions. All of them have four arms, the attributes of which are not very clear. Most of them have fierce faces. Since no iconographical text connects Shakyasimha with the Matrikas or any other female deity, it is difficult to identify them. Though their fierceness would tempt one to identify these as forms of Mara, it is difficult to interpret it until any conclusive evidence is available. An inscription on the rear side of the pedestal reads: Greetings to Shakysimha and others. On Wednesday, Uttarabhadra nakshatra, the 12th day of the dark half of the Chaitra month of the auspicious year of (N.S.) 915 Dhanadatasiha (Sk. Dhanadatta Simha) of Maduvahi (in Kathmandu) made this image and consecrated it. May it be auspicious." Spiritual Significance :- Buddha did not propagate idol worship. However, after his death, the faith split into the Hinayana and the Mahayana sects. It was under the latter sect that sculptors began to carve images of Buddha and within a few generations Buddhists took to worshipping images. This perhaps points to the spiritual need of the worshippers to have an image of the god before them to focus on while praying. Style :- Nepal Samvat