Item: Shakyamuni Buddha

Shakyamuni Buddha (Tibetan: sang gye sha kya tu pa. English: the Enlightened One, Sage of the Shakya Clan) with four accompanying figures.

Sanskrit: Buddha Shakyamuni Tibetan: Sang gye sha kya tu pa

Formal in appearance, the Buddha gazes forward with partially closed eyes and the blue-black hair on the head is piled in a tuft on top with a single gold ornament adorning the crown. Between the eyebrows is a white dot (urna) and adorning the neck are three curved horizontal lines. The earlobes are long and pierced. With the right arm bare the right hand is extended across the knee in the earth touching gesture (mudra). The left performs the gesture (mudra) of meditation - palm upward in the lap supporting a black begging bowl. Across his left shoulder is a saffron coloured patchwork robe. The legs are folded in vajra posture.

"Born in the Shakya race through skillful means and compassion; destroying the army of Mara who was unable to be destroyed by others; with a body radiant like a mountain of gold. Homage to you, King of Shakya." (Tibetan liturgical verse).

At the top left is the female figure of Prajnaparamita, yellow in colour, with one face and four hands. At the top right is Akshobhya Buddha, blue in colour, supporting an upright vajra scepter in the left hand. At the bottom left is Vajrasattva, white in colour, holding a vajra and bell. At the bottom right is Padmasambhava.

Jeff Watt 2-2016