Buddha Maravijaya Burmese Shan

Great Maravijaya Buddha, Burma (Myanmar), late 19th century, Konbaung / Mandalay period. The Awakened One is represented in vajrasana on his double stylized lotus base, his right hand calls the goddess of the Earth to bear witness to his awakening and his victory over Mara. Carved wood, black lacquer and gilding. Beautiful alternation of black lacquer and gilding on the entire image, very well preserved. Provenance: Succession Claude de Marteau. Sold with certificate of provenance. In Theravāda Buddhism, particularly in Thailand and Burma, the posture of the seated Buddha taking the earth as witness is one of the most emblematic representations of the tradition. This posture, known as bhūmisparśa mudrā (gesture of taking the earth as witness), symbolizes the awakening of the Buddha under the Bodhi tree in Bodhgayā. In Theravada iconography, this position 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 Māra, 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 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 Sukhothai and Rattanakosin style Buddhas, 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 and Konbaung styles, the same posture is omnipresent, but the statues often have a more rounded and benevolent face, with minute details on the folds of the garment and the ornamentation of the base. 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 refined 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 this Burmese Maravijaya Buddha in full screen mode on Vintage Addict