MEANING OF BUDDHA IMAGES
Every Buddha figure communicates meaning. One of the most important characteristics of a Buddha image are the mudras or hand gestures - each symbolizes some aspect of the Buddha's life or denotes a special characteristic. These well-defined gestures have a fixed meaning throughout all styles and periods of the Buddha image. There are several symbolic hand mudras and nearly all Southeast Asian Buddha images are made in one of them:
Dispelling Fear or imparting fearlessness: This represents the Buddha promising his followers tranquility, protection and courage if they accept and follow the Law.
Generally the right hand is raised to shoulder height with the palm facing outwards and fingers pointing upwards in a universal gesture of protection, benevolence, and peace and the dispelling of fear. The wrist is bent at a right angle to the forearm. The gesture is sometimes made with both hands. In Laos, this mudra is associated with a walking Buddha.
Teaching: Here, the right hand is raised with palm facing outwards and the index finger and thumb forming a circle. The other three fingers point upward. The circle formed by the thumb and index finger is the sign of the Wheel of Law or perfection. This gesture is often portrayed with both hands.
Teaching the First Sermon: Both hands are together at the chest with fingers on one hand forming a circle representing the "wheel of law" while the other hand touches the wheel to set it in motion or "to turn the wheel of Dharma". The hands are generally held close to the chest, at level with the heart. It symbolises one of the most important moments in the life of the Buddha, the occasion when he preached to his former companions the first sermon after His Enlightenment, in the Deer Park at Sarnath, representing the beginning of Buddhist teaching.
Meditation: Both hands resting together on the lap with palms facing upwards. The right hand is on top of the left hand. The Buddha is most often seated in the half-lotus posture or full-lotus posture with tightly crossed legs, so that the soles of both feet are visible. The gesture symbolizes perfect balance of thought and tranquility. In South East Asia, this mudra is frequently used in the image of the seated Buddha.
Calling the Earth to Witness: shows the Buddha seated with crossed legs, palms facing inwards, the fingertips of the right hand touching the ground as he "calls the earth to witness" his enlightenment. The gesture symbolizes unshakable faith and resolution and is the most common posture for Southeast Asian temple images.
Passage to Nirvana: The reclining Buddha represents the Buddha's passing away and symbolizes complete peace and detachment from the world.
Offering or Wish Granting: depicts the standing Buddha with arms outstretched in front of his body, palms opened out and the tips of the fingers pointing downwards to the earth. This mudra represents the Buddha blessing his followers and offering of the Buddhist teaching to the world. Sometimes the teaching, and its benefit, is symbolically represented by a small piece of medicinal myroloban fruit.
This mudra symbolises offering, giving, welcome, charity, compassion and sincere boon granting. It is nearly always made with the left hand.
Two types of standing Buddha images are distinctive to Laos. These are:
Calling for Rain: Depicts a majestic Buddha standing with hands held rigidly at his side, fingers pointing towards the ground. At the bottom, the figure's robes flare out upwards on both sides in a perfectly symmetrical fashion that is also unique and innovative.
Contemplating the Bodhi Tree: In this image the Buddha is standing in much the same way as in the 'Calling for Rain' pose, except that his hands are crossed at the wrists in front of his body. (The Bodhi tree, or 'Tree of Enlightenment', refers to the large banyan tree that the historical Buddha purportedly was sitting beneath when he attained enlightenment in Bodhgaya, India, in the 6th century BC.)
Midget Lao Buddha Images: Since ancient time, people of many religions have cast midget or miniature idols including Buddhas. In ancient times these tiny Buddhas were always wrapped up in a piece of doth and tied about the head above the ears while people were at work or in battle. The very tiny Lan Xang (Lao) Buddha images in alloys of various metals are classified as amulets.
FEATURES OF THE LAO BUDDHA
Standing Buddha images exhibit Khmer and Thai influences, while seated images are uniquely Lao, and show characteristics such as a beak-like nose, extended earlobes, tightly curled hair, and long hands and fingers.
The Radiance
The shape of the radiance depended on the origins of the creator of the image and took many shapes:
- cover of an earthenware pot
- a glass ball
- lotus bud
- high pointed-cone shape on a square base decorated with lotus buds beneath
- flame shape, during 'The Golden Age'
- clusters of lotus petals. Luang Prabang Buddhas feature lotus clusters engraved delicately.
Ear Shape
The shape of the ears of the Lao Buddha images is made in various designs. In the early stages, the ears were flat and plain with a curved conch shell acting as the ear cavity. Later, the shape became meticulous, and the line from beginning to end inside the ear attests to outstanding craftsmanship.
The Pedestal
The pedestal is a prominent feature of the Lao Buddha images. The respect and ardent faith the Lao had in Buddhism has caused images of the Buddha to be installed upon high pedestals.