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The following article was published in our article directory on May 20, 2013.
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Selecting the Right Buddhist Statue

Article Category: Advice

Author Name: Sean Daniel

Buddhist Statues
Buddhist statues are a wonderful and artful way to show your faith, give a décor a distinctive Asian feel, or may be used in your home to simply give your décor a more international flair. However, before you go out to purchase any Buddhist statues, you should do a bit of research. Here, we've gathered more information for you:

What Does a Buddha Statue Stand For?
Depending upon the person or thing the statue is depicting, as well as their position and posture; Buddhist statues may have different meanings. Most of them, though, are used to depict the creator of Buddhism, The Buddha (Siddartha Gautama) as well as some of the main beliefs in Buddhism, such as the Four Noble Truths, and the Eightfold Path. These statues of just the Buddha alone (although there are others of other Buddhist religious figures) may have up to 100 different positions, all of which mean something different.

Mudras
Mudras are the Buddhist names given to each of these different positions. Most of them incorporate only the position of the hands, but may also take into account the whole body's position. Mudras, along with very specific proportions on many Buddha statues, are the easiest way to tell if you are buying an authentic Buddha statue, or a Buddhist statue that depicts someone other than Gautama. You may also accidentally buy a Hindu statue and think you are buying a Buddhist statue, so be careful to observe the mudras.

Different Types of Buddhist Statues
There are several very popular positions for the Buddha (Gautama) to be depicted in when being sculpted. These include: the Dhyana Mudra, which depicts the Buddha with one or both of his hands in his lap. The Bhumisparsha Mudra depicts the Buddha on the back of an elephant or with his right fingers reaching toward earth. The Abhaya Mudra, in which the right hand is raised with the palm facing outward and the left hand, is at the hips. The Dharmachakra Mudra depicts the Buddha with his index finger and thumb touching to form a circle. Lastly, there is also the Varada mudra, showing the Buddha with both hands at the waist, both palms outwards, with the left hand pointing down, while the right one points up.

Buddhist Statues Easily Confused as Depictions of the Buddha
Some people may easily confuse the depictions of some Hindu deities as Buddhist statues. Most often, Hindu statues are not depicted with such Mudras. Others easily confuse statues of the bodhisattva (someone who is near to obtaining Buddahood) with statues of Gautama, the Buddha. Bodhisattvas are commonly known as the Laughing Buddha, though they are not the Buddha at all, but are Buddhist statues. Other Buddhist statues include depictions of warlike deities called Mantra Kings, or symbolic statues meant to symbolize Hindu deities who converted to Buddhism, or nonhuman elements important to Buddhism.

What Does Each Type Mean?
Although we have already discussed the types of statues, each type does have a meaning. The five Buddhist statues may represent universal law, balance, wisdom, good will or blessings, protections, steadfastness, heroism, enlightenment, and more. Do not be afraid to ask the person you are contemplating buying a Buddhist statue from what the meaning is. Often times, they will be able to tell you. If not, simply take note of the mudras the statues is performing, then begin researching the different meanings of said mudras online.

Why Buy Buddhist Statues?
Buddhist statues may serve as not just decorative pieces, but may also remind us to remain calm, peaceful, and participate in daily thoughtfulness. Such thoughtfulness or mindfulness of ourselves, although it does not have to be religious at all in nature, may help us to expand our horizons, remain calm throughout the day, and put stress into perspective. As decorative pieces, however, Buddhist statues themselves may serve to add an Asian touch to your favorite room or outdoor space. It may also serve as a greeter for those in your kitchen, dining room, or front porch.

Where Can I Buy Buddhist Statues?
Buddhist statues are available a variety of places. If you are lucky enough to live in a larger, urban area there may be local shops where you can find and purchase Buddhist statues on your own. However, for many who are interested in such items, this is not the case. Never fear! You may still be able to purchase such pieces of artwork from dealers or retailers online. Some may have other Buddhist artifacts or ceremonial needs, while others may only specialize in statues. Many of these sites have handy guides (like this one) to let you know more about the types of statues, etc. they offer, and their religious significance.

Where May I Place My Buddhist Statues?
Once you have purchased your Buddhist statues, feel free to place them anywhere. You may have a specific, special corner of one of your rooms reserved for them, may place them on a pedestal, on a table, or around a room to add to the overall décor. Or, you may, instead, bypass having them indoors, altogether. Instead, you may opt to keep them outdoors. In this case, place them on your front steps, on a special pedestal anywhere in your yard, in your garden area among flowers and water features, or in a special corner of your patio. Really, you can place them anywhere.

Buddhist vs Hindu Statues
As stated before, before you purchase any Buddhist statue you will want to be sure that it is actually a Buddhist statue, and not a Hindu one. You will also want to think about whether you want simply a type of Buddhist statue in your home, or if you want a depiction of Gautama, specifically. Then, think about what you want the meaning of the statue to be, based upon the Mudras. Be sure to buy from a reputable dealer. Most of them can, at least, tell you what each statue means.

Keywords: buddhist statues, buddhist statue, buddhist decor, buddhist sculpture, stone buddhist statues

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