of the Buddha were made for about four or five centuries after
the death of the Buddha. It is sometimes said that prior to
this time it was 'forbidden' to make statues or pictures of
the Buddha. Whatever the reasons, the first Buddha statues were
produced in about the 1st or 2nd century AD in Bactria (Afghanistan
and northern Pakistan) perhaps as a result of Greek influence,
and in Mathura. There is no standard way of representing the
Buddha which may differ according to the artistic inspiration,
the tastes or the iconographical canons of the different cultures
in which they are produced. Some features however are common
to most statues. The hands of the Buddha statues are shown in
different gestures (mudra), each indicative of important things
the Buddha did throughout his life.
hands nestled in the lap suggest meditation, held in front of
the chest suggest teaching the Dhamma, one hand held up with
the palm facing outwards suggests the giving of confidence or
of teaching or Dhammacakra mudra with both hands in front of
the chest, with the right hand raising the tips of the index
finger and the thumbs touching; and with the left hand raising
the tips of the ring finger and the thumbs touching has its
special significance in the history of the Buddhist art. This
pose of the Buddha, the Dhammacakra mudra, appears to have existed
from the beginning of the history of Buddhist art as can be
seen early in the Gandhara period. However, the placing of the
hands gesture is not always the same in all Buddhist countries,
cultures and periods. There is no universal standard of this
the fundamental character is that one or both hands are raised
with the one of the hand's forefinger touching the thumb, making
the shape of a circle and leaving three fingers straight. This
could be both in a standing or sitting pose.
recognising this hand gesture as teaching the exact meaning
of this symbol varies. It differs from culture to culture or
according to artistic views. Following are some explanations
available from different sources:
a) It symbolises
the main principle of Buddhism viz. the Threefold Training (i.e.
precept, mental-development and wisdom) that leads to the ultimate
aim of Buddhist emancipation, Nibbana. Raising three fingers
represent the Threefold Training and the circle symbolises Nibbana.
b) It represents
the Threefold Training summarised in the Middle Path.
c) It symbolises
the setting of the wheel of Dhamma in motion for the happiness
and benefits of all beings living in three spheres (viz. the
Sense-sphere, the Form-sphere and the Formless-sphere).
d) It signifies
the essence of the Discourse on Setting in Motion the Wheel
of Dhamma (Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta), the First Sermon of
the Buddha. Raising three fingers implies the Three Paths viz.
the Path of Self-indulgence, the Path of Self-mortification,
and the Middle Path or the Eightfold Noble Path. It draws upon
the instruction that one should avoid the Path of Self-indulgence
and Path of Self-mortification but should follow the Middle
Path that leads followers to final liberation or Nibbana.
In the creation
of the Phra Buddha Dhammacakra image, the sculptor brought together
the original Gandhara artistic style of the teaching pose applied
with Sukhothai and modern Ratanakosin arts of Thailand. The
image is cast in bronze with the mixture of pure gold. It is
made by the 'lost wax process', where a wax image is created,
then coated with a plasticine based mould which is subsequently
baked allowing the wax to melt and drain away, replacing it
with molten metal. The finished image is then gilded and adorned
with pure gold leaf.
mudra pose indicates the event when the Buddha gave the First
Sermon after his enlightenment to the Five Ascetics at Isipatana
deer park near Varanasi, seven weeks after his enlightenment.
The discourse was named Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta or discourse
on setting the wheel of Dhamma in motion.
It is often
said that Buddhists worship statues, in the sense that they
believe that Buddha statues actually are the Buddha or that
they have some inherent power. But such ideas are quite incorrect.
Buddhists do not 'worship' Buddha statues but they are seen
as symbols that can be helpful in creating devotion, uplifting
the mind and focusing attention. In particular, they represent
the absolute virtues of the Buddha, which Buddhists recite to
remind themselves of such virtues and to gain inspiration to
develop those virtues within themselves.