Hand Carved 13.5" Medicine Buddha Gold Gilded with Face Painted Copper Statue

Medicine Buddha / Sangye Menlha Statue

 Medicine Buddha – The Supreme Healer

Noble One, you should think of yourself as someone who is sick,

Of the Dharma as the remedy,

Of the Buddha as a skillful doctor,

And of your diligent practice as the way to recovery.

The Medicine Buddha, or Bhaisajyaguru, is the Buddha of Healing. Meditating on the Medicine Buddha is considered to be a powerful method for increasing healing powers, allowing practitioners to alleviate their own sufferings as well as those of others. Through his boundless compassion and generosity, Bhaisajyaguru helps sincere seekers overcome physical illness and infirmity. But even more importantly, the Buddha is the skillful doctor who heals the great disease afflicting all sentient beings. By providing the Dharma as a profound antidote to the poisons of attachment, hatred and ignorance, he lifts the veil of delusion and points the way to freedom.

Gestures and Attributes

The Buddha is depicted with his right hand extended downward, palm open, with thumb and index finger touching. This posture is known as Varada Mudra, or the gesture of granting wishes. This mudra symbolizes Bhaisajyaguru's kindness, charity and compassion toward all beings. In the same hand he lightly grasps a sprig of the Myrobalan plant, an important healing herb in Ayurvedic medicine. It is believed that this plant has the power not only to heal the body, but also to free one from the inner sicknesses of attachment, hatred and ignorance. His left hand lies in his lap with palm upward in the gesture of meditation (Dhyana Mudra), representing the eradication of all sickness and suffering through the realization of absolute truth. In the same hand he holds the traditional begging bowl of an ordained Buddhist monk. The bowl contains a sacred medicinal nectar that cures all ills, hindrances and obstacles.

About this Sculpture

This statue is a charming portrayal of Medicine Buddha / Sangye Menhla. Expertly cast from copper alloy using lost wax method gilded with 24 karat gold and hand painted face; this sculpture is a profound representation of Medicine Buddha / Sangye Menhla. The Buddha sits gracefully in meditation upon a lotus throne, expressing the calm majesty of one who has mastered himself. With his head slightly inclined in Varada Mudra, he seems to smile with a secret inner joy, prompting feelings of encouragement and happiness in the observer. His monastic robes drape beautifully across his shoulder and arm are exquisitely carved throughout, showing intricate marvelous detailing of leaves and vines, where the lotus base is also intricately hand carved with Mantra, leaves and vines at the front and back of the lotus base. And over all, stunning 24 karat gold gilded lends a pleasing sense of warmth, gently inviting one to linger, leaving thoughts of the world behind. This sculpture was individually handcrafted in Patan, Nepal by master artisans of the Shakya clan who are considered among the best in the world. These craftsmen are the modern heirs to a centuries-old tradition of creating sacred art for use in temples and monasteries. The fine metalworking techniques have been passed down from generation to generation since ancient times.