Antique Jambupati Buddha, Burma/Myanmar (3257V)

Description

In traditional Theravada Buddhist practice, Shakyamuni Buddha was depicted in simple robes of a monk representing his renunciation of worldly goods and desires. In contrast in Burma/ Myanmar, Buddhas were depicted with lavish royal attire known as the Jambupati Buddha. In traditional Theravada Buddhist practice, is depicted in simple monk’s robes, devoid of any ornamentation or jewelry. His normal stark attire represents the Buddha’s renunciation of worldly good and desires and reflects the sacrifice he made by rejecting his material heritage as a crown prince. According to legend, the haughty and powerful King Jambupati threatened King Bimbisara of Magadha, who then sought the Buddha’s help. When the Buddha appeals to Jambupati to return Bumbisara’s kingdom, he refused to comply, at which point Buddha used his magical spiritual powers to turn himself into a “king-of-kings” (rajadhiraja) and ordered Jambupati to appear before him. Overwhelmed by the Buddha’s sheer regal magnificence in his precious attire and surrounded by his majestic palace, Jambupati submitted, renounced his throne, and is said to have attained nirvana as the Buddha’s disciple. It has been suggested that in Southeast Asian countries like Burma and Thailand where rulers had revered if not semi-divine status, this legend reinforced the belief that even the monarch must defer to and worship the Buddha, the King of Kings.

Jambupati Buddha is depicted here in lavish and decorative Burmese court attire including jewelry and gloves and wears an impressive round faceted crown with huge decorative butterfly flanges extending from the shoulders to almost the top of the finial. He looks directly at onlookers with strength and confidence to emphasize his spiritual and material power. He sits atop an extremely high multi-tiered waisted throne; high tiered and decorated thrones are considered a sign of reverence and respect, especially in South East Asia. He sits in Earth Witnessing (bhumisparsha) mudra in the traditional lotus position of meditation with the left hand in his lap (dhyana-mudra) while his right hand with elongated even-lengthened fingers reaches over his knee to touch the earth in gesture that calls the demon-king Mara, who sought to deny him his awakening, to witness the moment of his enlightenment.

This piece is delicately hand carved and painted with red and gold pigments and then covered in a thin lacquer coating. The original gilding covers 75% or more of its surface. The statue is in excellent condition with no restorations and with all the lacquer extant.

Although there are many contemporary renderings of the Jambupati Buddha, authentic antique carvings extremely rare.