Nepal, possibly 18th century

Nepal, possibly 18th century
Buddha, Khasa-Malla style
Gilded copper alloy
It presents losses in the gilding
Measurements: 39 x 30 x 20 cm.

Sculpture of Siddhartha Gautama seated in "dhyanasana" position, meditation posture, with his hands in "bhumisparsha", mudra that could be translated as "touching the earth". This mudra, formed with the five fingers of the right hand extended to touch the ground, symbolizes the Buddha's enlightenment under the bodhi tree when he invoked the earth goddess, Sthavara, to bear witness to his attainment of enlightenment. The right hand, placed on the knee, and complemented by the left hand, which is held flat on the lap, symbolizes the union of method and wisdom, Samsara and Nirvana. The sculpture is complemented by the "sanghati" or monastic robe, a warmer outer garment, also used on formal occasions, which is usually worn over the "uttarasanga", an upper garment that only covers the left shoulder, and the "antaravasaka", an inner cloth used to cover the lower part of the body.

The style of the figure has its origin in the territories ruled by the Khasa-Malla, a Buddhist kingdom of western Nepal and western Tibet that flourished between the twelfth and fourteenth centuries, although the sculpture in question is possibly later.