Burmese Buddha Maravijaya Shan

Large Buddha in the position of taking the earth as a witness, Burma (Myanmar), late 19th century. The Awakened One is represented in vajrasana, his right hand calls the goddess of the Earth to bear witness to his awakening and his victory over Mara. Carved wood, black lacquer, gilding and red pigments. Very well preserved. Provenance: Succession Claude de Marteau. Sold with certificate of provenance. In Theravāda Buddhism, particularly in Thailand and as in this specific case in Burma, the posture of seated Buddha taking the earth as a witness is one of the most emblematic representations of the tradition of the School of the Ancients. This posture, known as bhūmisparśa mudrā (gesture of taking the earth as a witness), symbolizes the awakening of the Buddha under the Bodhi tree in Bodhgayā. In Theravada iconography, this position is omnipresent, particularly in Burmese 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 meditation, 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 Māra, invokes the earth as a witness to his merits accumulated over his past lives as well as his resistance to the temptations aroused by Mara. According to tradition, the earth itself responds by triggering a flood that carries away Māra'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 the Buddhas of the Sukhothai and Rattanakosin styles, where he is often depicted with slender forms and a serene expression, accentuating the idea of transcendence and spiritual purity. In Burma, particularly in the Mandalay or Konbaung styles, the same posture is omnipresent, but the statues often have more rounded and benevolent facial features, with minute details on the folds of the garment and the ornamentation of the base or throne. This iconography expresses a fundamental aspect of Theravada Buddhism: the importance of the pāramī (perfections) accumulated by the Buddha through his previous lives and the primacy of karma in the path to enlightenment. Unlike the Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna traditions, where Buddha is often represented in transcendent forms or adorned with esoteric symbols, Theravada favors a simple and didactic approach, centered on the example of the historical Buddha Gautama. Thus, the posture of taking the earth to witness becomes a constant reminder for the faithful of the power of merit and the determination necessary to achieve liberation. View the Maravijaya Burmese Buddha in full screen mode on Vintage Addict