Early Buddhist art was able to express the presence of the Buddha through his 'traces' in the form of symbols the lotus for his birth, the bodhi tree for his enlightenment, the wheel for his teachings and the stupa for his death and achievement of nirvana. As Buddhist devotion developed, a superhuman nature was accorded to the teacher.
In this statuette, Buddha, wearing a tricivara (a close fitting robe extending from neck to ankles), stands erect. His hands are raised in abhaya and varada mudra. These two postures are also associated with deities of the Hindu pantheon. The abhaya or the protection assuring posture of the hand shows a lifted hand, the palm with fingers extended upwards face outwards. The varada or the blessing posture has the hand in the opposite direction. Slanting on an inverted lotus seat, he looks peace and tranquility personified.
This description by Renu Rana.
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