Sandalwood Buddha Statue

Sandalwood Buddha Statue
 

News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented a sandalwood Buddha statue to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during the latter’s two-day state visit.
 

About:
 The Buddha figure, made of pure sandalwood, has hand carvings along with traditional designs and natural scenes.
 In this posture, Buddha is sitting in ‘dhyana mudra’ under the Bodhi tree. The ‘dhyana mudra’ is the mudra of meditation and the attainment of spiritual perfection.
 According to tradition, this mudra derives from the one assumed by the Buddha when meditating under the Bodhi tree before his enlightenment. The obverse of the image has an intricate carving of the Bodhi tree.
 The Kadamwood Jali Box in which the statue was encased is also considered auspicious in Indian culture.
 

About Indian sandalwood:
 The sandalwood tree, a species native to India, has been an important part of Indian culture for centuries.
 Indian Sandalwood is one of the most sacred herbs of Ayurveda.
 As it is strong and durable, Sandalwood is mostly harvested for its timber.
 Karnataka is sometimes also called ‘gandhada gudi’ or the land of sandalwood.
 

What are different mudras in Buddhism?
 Abhaya Mudra - It represents fearlessness, protection, and the dispelling of negativity.
 Varada Mudra - It represents generosity, compassion, and the granting of wishes.
 Bhumisparsha Mudra – It involves touching the ground with the fingertips of the right hand, while the left hand rests on the lap. It represents moment of Buddha’s enlightenment.
 Anjali Mudra - It represents respect, greeting, and gratitude.
 Vitarka Mudra - This mudra is also known as the 'teaching mudra' or 'gesture of discussion. It represents the transmission of knowledge and the communication of the Buddha's teachings.
 Dharmachakra Mudra – It represents the constant cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, and the Buddha's teachings as the means to break free from this cycle.
 Other Mudras include Tarjani Mudra, Jnana Mudra, Karana Mudra, Uttarbodhi Mudra.