Konbaung Maravijaya Birman Buddha, 1800s

Details

Description

Imposing Maravijaya Buddha in carved wood, covered with wine-colored lacquer and gilding.
Burma (Myanmar), Shan Princely States, Konbaung period (1752-1885).

… Read more Imposing Maravijaya Buddha in carved wood, covered with wine-colored lacquer and gilding.
Burma (Myanmar), Shan Princely States, Konbaung period (1752-1885).

He is depicted in vajrāsana, seated on a stylized double lotus-shaped base. His right hand touches the earth to call upon his goddess to witness his victory over Mara, lord of illusions and obstacles, to attain Enlightenment.

The sculpture, perfectly preserved in its entirety, features particularly refined ornamentation. The back of the throne, adorned with a double register of lotus petals, reveals the open reliquary cavity.

On this piece, the ushnisha flame is adjacent. H 89 cm x W 38 cm x D 27 cm
Weight: 16.58 kg
Provenance: Estate of Claude de Marteau
Sold with certificate of provenance
In Theravāda iconography, the bhumusparsha mudra is omnipresent, particularly in Burmese and Thai statues. Buddha is depicted in a meditative posture, legs crossed in the lotus position, his left hand resting on his knees in a gesture of concentration, while his right hand touches the ground with his fingertips. This gesture evokes the moment when Siddhārtha Gautama, confronted by the assaults of the demon Mara, invokes the earth as a witness to his merits accumulated over his past lives. According to tradition, the earth itself responds by triggering a flood that washes away Mara's forces, thus sealing the Buddha's victory over illusions and his access to enlightenment.

In Thailand, this posture is particularly associated with the iconography of Sukhothai and Rattanakosin-style Buddhas, where they are often depicted with slender figures and a serene expression, emphasizing the idea of ​​transcendence and spiritual purity. In Burma, particularly in the Mandalay and Konbaung styles, the same posture is omnipresent, but the statues often present a more rounded and benevolent face, with meticulous details on the folds of the garment and the ornamentation of the base.

This iconography expresses a fundamental aspect of Theravāda Buddhism: the importance of the pāramī (perfections) accumulated by the Buddha through his previous lives and the primacy of karma on the path to enlightenment. Unlike the Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna traditions, where Buddha is often depicted in transcendent forms or adorned with esoteric symbols, Theravāda favors a purified and didactic approach, centered on the historical example of Gautama Buddha. Thus, the posture of taking the earth as witness becomes a constant reminder for the faithful of the power of merit and the determination necessary to achieve liberation. See less