Antique Carved Buddha in Freedom from Fear, Laos (3148LKE) $1275

Description

This Lao Buddha reflects Theravada Buddhism, the original conservative tradition practiced in Southeast Asia depicting the Buddha, by closely following proscribed cannons in ancient texts. Lao sculptural styles resemble those of Northern and Northeastern Thailand where Buddha statues closely reflect the lakshana, the 32 “auspicious marks” or physical traits by which the Buddha can be recognized: golden skin, well-formed nose, hair with soft snail-crowned spiral curls and elongated body, face, long arms, fingers and hands. Unique to Lao Buddhas is the gilt covering to reflect his golden skin, curved-shaped pendulous ears and a distinctive flame-shaped radiance emerging from the ushnisha  which functions as a spiritual aureole. He wears a thin wet style long uttarasanga (monastic robe) wrapped around his hips with a folded sanghati on his left shoulder. Laos and Thailand are unique in portraying Buddha holding up both hands in abhaya mudra  with the arm crooked, palm of the raised hand facing outward, and fingers upright.  Referred to as “Freedom from Fear” or the “Gesture of Protection,” it symbolizes benevolence, protection, peace and dispelling of fear  representing Buddha’s fearlessness and spiritual power that he confers on others and also means “fear not” to all devotees viewing the image. It also is called the “Causing the Waters to Subside” or “Calming the Ocean” which reflecting Buddha’s visit to India where he met the monk Kasyapa who was giving sermons and living in a hut near a river that began to flood. The Buddha raised both arms and miraculously caused the floodwaters to recede resulting in Kasyapa and his followers converting to Buddhism. Lao artisans are said to be in both a spiritual and mental state when carving Buddhist statues  enabling them to visualize the ideal Buddhist reality. This produces a wide variety of artistic styles with no images being identical.  Although the Buddha is not perceived as a deity, Lao Buddhists often seek to communicate with the supernatural world through Buddha statues by praying and making offerings to them in temples and on home altars. Only part  of the original high pedestal remains and has been replaced with a new two-tier stand but this Buddha otherwise is in very good condition with a dark patina showing its age.

Sources

Somkiart Lopetcharat, Lao Buddha, The Image and Its History, Bangkok, Siam International Book Company, Ltd, Thailand, 2000.

K.I. Matics, Gestures of the Buddha, Bangkok, Chulalongkorn University Press, 2001.