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By Ingram Kant
Buddha images are generally found in four positions or stances:
a seated position, a standing position, a walking position and a
reclining position. Therefore when we describe the position of a
Buddha image, we may call it a seated Buddha image, a standing Buddha
image, a walking Buddha image or a reclining Buddha image.
In each position there are variations of gesture or attitude. Each
attitude is related to a period in the life of the Lord Buddha.
The most common attitude of a seated Buddha image is the attitude
of subduing Mara. In this attitude the Buddha is seated with the
legs crossed, the right hand is on the right knee with the four
fingers pointing to the ground, while the left hand rests in the
lap. This is also known as the attitude of calling the Goddess of
the Earth to witness. This is related to the time when the Lord
Buddha was about to attain his enlightenment. He was attacked by
Mara (a personification of evil) and his army. The Lord Buddha summoned
the Goddess of the Earth to witness the attack and to save him by
pointing the four fingers of the right hand to the ground. The Goddess
of the Earth emerged and saved him by wringing the water of merit
from her hair to drown Mara and his army. In this way Mara was subdued.
Thus this attitude is known as subduing Mara.
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Another common attitude is that of meditation showing the Lord
Buddha in meditation when he attains enlightenment. This attitude
shows the Lord Buddha seated with his legs crossed. The two hands
are folded in the lap with the palm of the right hand facing upward.Sometimes
we see a Buddha image in the attitude of meditation under the protection
of a nine-headed or seven-headed naga. This attitude is related
to the time when a naga named Mujarin spread its hood to protect
the Lord Buddha from a rainstorm while he was meditating under the
Mujarin tree. A Buddha image made in this way is usually called
a seated Buddha image under the cover of a multi-headed naga.
Standing Buddha images are also found in various attitudes. For
example, a standing Buddha image with the right hand lifted to chest
level and the left hand resting at the side is called the attitude
of persuading his relatives not to quarrel or the attitude of pacifying
his relatives. The story goes like this. While the Lord Buddha was
staying at a place by the Rohinee River, the relatives of his father
were quarreling with those of his mother about the water to irrigate
their rice-fields. The Lord Buddha pointed out to them that men
were move valuable than water. Therefore it is not worth killing
men just for water. Realizing this the relatives stopped quarreling.
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A standing Buddha image with the left hand raised and the right
hand resting at the side is known as the attitude of restraining
the Phra Kaen Chan from rising from its seat or the attitude of
urging the sandal wood image not to rise from its seat. This is
how the story goes. When the Lord Buddha paid a visit to his mother
for three months on Tavatimsa, the second level of heaven, a king
named Pasentikosol, who was missing the Lord Buddha, had a Buddha
image carved from sandalwood and had it placed in the residence
where the Lord Buddha used to stay. When the Lord Buddha returned
from Tavatimsa. The king requested the Lord Buddha to have a look
at the sandalwood image, which rose from its seat to pay homage
to the Lord Buddha. He urged the image not to rise from its seat
by lifting his left hand in the gesture of restraining.
A standing Buddha image with both hands raised to chest level is
known as the attitude of calming the ocean. The Lord Buddha performed
a miracle by stopping a rainstorm and flooding in the presence of
the three arrogant hermits. Having seen the miracle, they submitted
to the Lord Buddha and listened to his sermon. The three hermits
and their 1,000 followers were so impressed with the preaching that
they were willingly ordained as monks.
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