Bronze Buddha image in a
bhumisparsa position, the most
common
mudra in Thai-Buddhist
iconography, meaning ‘touching the earth’. It symbolises the episode from
Buddha's
legendary life story when he was tempted by Mara whilst meditating
under a fig tree (fig.) in
Bodh Gaya.
He then pledged not to leave the spot until he
attained Enlightenment. By touching the earth he called upon her to be a
witness to his
merits accumulated during
previous lives.
The image, cast in
Sukhothai-style, is seated
in
a
virasana
asana.
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