Pristine Buddha, Seated

The profoundly contemplative Buddha is seated upon a bed of lotus petals. His long and slender legs, clad in a silken dhoti, are gathered in a superb padmasana, the cumulative pinnacle of all asanas known to yogis. The upper body equi-balanced upon the hip-and-knees trifecta, the soles of both feet facing skywards, and the heels meeting straight below the navel. It is this stance that has borne the weight of the Buddha’s sadhana all these years of wandering and asceticism.

For many, this is the image that springs to mind upon mention of the word ‘Buddha’. The poorna padmasana. The fingers of His stately hands, which are in the dharmachakra mudra. A robe made from a singular stretch of fabric, draped over the left shoulder, leaving the other bare. A mukhamandala replete with the glamour of absolute consciousness attainable through the higher reaches of samadhi. Ears lengthened by years of accumulated wisdom, the lobes of which seem to fuse into His clavicles.

The pristine monotone of this Buddha composition makes it a one-of-a-kind work of art. Fashioned from marble, it is characterised by soft, precisely defined curves which lend themselves to a pleasing silhouette. Zoom in on that serene face, the minimalistic etchings upon which make for handsome features of a prince and monk.