#cambodianbuddhas

[dharmasculpture]

This beautiful Khmer rosewood speckled Buddha statue was recently hand carved from an antique piece of wood. Shakyamuni Buddha is commonly represented with his right hand touching the earth, and his left hand resting upon his lap in the gesture of meditation. This is the bhumisparsha mudra also known as the earth-touching gesture which symbolizes the union of his method or skillful means in overcoming Mara (right hand), through the perfect wisdom of his deep meditation upon emptiness (left hand). It symbolizes the precise moment when the awakening Buddha, Shakyamuni, vanquished the army of Mara beneath the bodhi tree and summoned the goddess of the earth, Sthavara, to bear witness to his countless acts of sacrifice.