Black Earth Touching Buddha Statue 11"

This sculpture has many small details which differentiate it from other similar Buddha sculptures.  His hands and feet have a feminine, slender, elongated quality to them which give the sculpture a sense of gracefulness.  The slight smile of the Buddha has puckered lips with large creases on each side.  The lotus base is a beautiful.  The deep green patina gives the piece a wholesome earth-toned color.

The Buddha is sitting in the Earth Touching, Calling the Earth to Witness, or The victory over (Subduing) Mara position.  He sits with folded legs (right on top of the left).  The left hand is held in his lap with the palm facing upward.  The right hand extends over the right thigh, near the knee, with the fingers pointing towards the ground, palm inward.  During meditation, Siddartha was subjected to many temptations but none as terrible as those posed by the evil Mara, who bombards him with his demon armies, monsters, beasts and violent storms and his three lascivious daughters.  The Buddha remains steadfast.  Then to testify to Mara of his meritorious past, he points to the earth with his hand and calls forth Thorani, the beautiful earth goddess.  She rises from the ground and wrings the water from her long, black hair, which raises a torrential flood that drowns Mara and his army of demons.