Siddhartha Gautama was the founder of the faith called Buddhism. He is the figure represented by most of the Buddha figurines throughout the world. The first Buddha pieces were not created until possibly four or five hundred years after the death of Buddha. This was done out of respect for him. Therefore, there is no established form that can be used to accurately depict him. What we do know is that he was an Indian prince who lived from 563 to 483 BC. His philosophy does not believe in a personal God who punishes our wrong doings or reward our good deeds. The road of enlightenment to acquire Nirvana is the most important goal of Buddhism. The founder himself is the one who learned from the truth of nature and was enlightened. You could say that Buddha is simply a human being who has achieved a thoughtful spiritual transformation in life.

In regard to the statues, different Buddha rupas come in different positions. These rupas are mainly in sitting, standing, and in a reclining position. It might be of interest to note that the reclining statue tends to symbolize passing away and achieving the blessed state of Nirvana. In choosing the best Buddha statue for yourself, you will want to consider some important factors. First, you should understand why you want to buy one. It could be that this collectible will help you achieve your own sense of inner peace. It could depend more on your own choice of achieving whatever it is that you do desire. For instance, if you want to experience more joy in your life then the happy Buddha or the laughing Buddha might be a lucky selection. On the other hand, if you simply admire and appreciate Asian artwork this figurine can serve as a central piece in your living room or office.

Once you have determined the “why” of your choice, you ought to consider the face of the Buddha you are considering purchasing. This is often the most important factor to be aware of. The buyer’s axiom in Buddha statues is that the finer the paint on the face the better quality of the statue. In addition, always check the long ears of the figurine. Genuine statues should have very long ears. You can also notice the carving on the body of the statue. There are certain characteristics and/or symbolic features that you will find in nearly every Buddha statue. As an example, if the hands are resting in the lap this represents meditation. However, if the hands are crossing over the chest this indicates the symbol of Dharma or “the state of being.” Lastly, you will want to decide what kind of lucky collectible is best for you. Some choices of style could include Golden Buddha, Antique Buddha, Wooden Buddha, Jade Buddha, Bronze Buddha, and Copper Buddha.

The Buddha statue is often said to bring good luck, wealth, happiness, and prosperity. It is certainly a hallmark piece in the array of Asian collectibles around the world. Its connection to Buddhism is an important factor in your determination of its proper place in your vintage collection. This figurine as a worthy piece of artwork is something to strongly consider before making your selection. Whatever piece you choose should say something about yourself and where your life journey is headed. Enjoy your shopping experience!

The ‘Buddhist Art,’ associated with monuments and paintings enlightening about the religion, Buddhism, came in to existence in around fifth century BC, under the mounting influence of Gautama Sakyamuni. The preachers of Buddhism claim Gautama Buddha as the greatest amongst the mythological pantheon, an aspect highly magnified in one of the key forms of the art of India, the ‘Buddhist Art.’ The initial ‘Buddhist Art,’ found at Bharhut, Sanchi, and Bodh-Gaya, and Amaravati, bore no anthropomorphic depiction of Gautama Buddha. The ‘Buddha Image’ was instead ‘Symbolic’ at that time. Some of the key representative symbols were empty thrones, a standing woman, a pair of footprints, the Bodhi tree, or the Dharma-chakra that depicted his life.

Buddhism attained huge popularity in the early first century BC. Since the asceticism of the religion was beyond the understanding of the followers, an iconic image of Buddha transpired in Northern India and portrayed Buddha in human form, which still exists. Gandhara (now in Pakistan) and Mathura (in Central Northern India) were the primary centers for the production of the ‘Buddha Images.’ The ‘Gandharan’ image displayed Buddha in standing or sitting position, with wavy hair and well-draped shoulders, closely resembling the Greek God, ‘Apollo.’ The ‘Mathuran’ school, on the other hand, contributed to the lotus seat (depicting the importance of mediation and His enlightenment), sporting a standing Buddha, holding one hand high and wearing a robe, baring His right shoulder.

The ‘Buddhist Art’ in India continued to expand. The pink sand stone sculptures made during the Gupta period at Mathura are an exemplary of finesse and competent artisanship, with few dating back to even 81 AD. Some gold and copper currency coins of 78 AD carry the ‘Buddha Image’ on one side and Kanishka’s (the ruler then) on the other.

The historical ‘Buddha Images’ were depicted in five different positions, symbolizing the significant events of His life, such as birth, exit from home, enlightenment, first sermon, and death. The images are postured in four styles, standing, sitting, walking, and reclining with the position of hands conveying several connotations, such as:

Pacifying Relatives – Standing Buddha with right hand lifted to chest and the left one resting on the side

Calming the ocean – Standing Buddha with both hands raised up to chest

Subduing Mara – Crossed legged, seated Buddha, with his right hand on the right knee, pointing four fingers to the ground, while the left hand rests on His lap

Some fascinating details to be taken into account while creating the ‘Buddha Image,’ are the pre-defined measurements for physical proportion such as the exaggerated earlobes, and the “enlightenment-elevation” on the top of the head. Apart from the historical ‘Buddha Images,’ various other forms such as “Laughing Buddha” and “Medicine Buddha” are available in a variety of materials, such as sand stone, clay, gold etc. A renowned Buddhist follower once stated that “A Buddha image is not only a symbol of the historical person but the human qualities that he perfected; compassion, wisdom, patience, generosity, kindness, etc., worthy of bowing down to.”