Item: Shakyamuni Buddha - Shakyamuni

Shakyamuni Buddha (Tibetan: sha kya thu pa. English: Sage of the Shakya Clan, the Enlightened One): along with two principal disciples.

Sanskrit: Buddha Shakyamuni Tibetan: Sang gye sha kya tu pa

With one face and two hands, his hair is blue with a topknot crowned with a gold ornament. Attired in orange robes and a green sash, the right shoulder is slightly covered leaving the length of the arm bare. The legs are folded in vajra posture with the right over left. The right hand is placed with the palm down across the knee in the mudra (gesture) calling the Earth to witness the moment of enlightenment. The left hand rests in the lap in the mudra of meditation and holds a begging bowl. Surrounded by a nimbus of light rays forming a pink sphere and a aureola, framed by flower blossoms, he sits above a moon disc and multi-coloured lotus blossom. Standing at the left side is the monk Shariputra and at the right Maudgalyayana, both holding a khakkhara staff in the right hand and a begging bowl in the left.

In the sky above is a large parasol, sun, moon, along with blue clouds. Standing in front is a large Dharma Wheel surrounded by wish-fulfilling jewels.

Jeff Watt 3-2016