Name/Title
Indian Buddha ShakyamuniEntry/Object ID
MK_0069Description
Sat radiant and peaceful underneath a bodhi tree in Mauna Kea’s Spa Garden, is an 11th century Indian granite figure of a seated Buddha. Notice this is a slender, fit-looking Buddha form, not the round-bellied laughing form we often see. The expressions of the Buddha are limitless: this one is about discipline; meditation and Enlightenment.
This captivating sculpture portrays the Buddha in a state of deep meditation, with hands posed in the dhyana mudra or meditation posture. On the upper palm, a Buddhist wheel of law is intricately carved, complementing the serene and contemplative expression on the Buddha's face. Stylized hair curls adorn his pointed head, representing extraordinary wisdom, while a dot in the middle of his forehead signifies a spiritual third eye and the pendant ears gracing the sides of his head denote his noble birth, abandoned to seek Enlightenment. Draped in a monk's robe, the Buddha's right shoulder is left bare, emanating an aura of timeless wisdom.
Every detail of this figure encapsulates the transcendence of the Buddha, inherent in Buddhism. The hands, poised in the traditional position of Buddha subduing Mara (death and the passions), remind one of the Buddha's teachings that man is slave to his own desires and must subdue them. The Buddha’s radiant expression derives from the transformation of his whole being in the simple but permanent acceptance of life merged into the universal communion of truth. The compassion that shines in the face of Buddha reflects his attainment of Nirvana, the extinction of individualized consciousness. And seated upon the lotus, the symbol of purity rising from the mud, the Buddha embodies the notion of enlightenment bearing immediate fruit, much like the lotus fruit and the truth he represents.
Walking up to it from the promenade corridor, the stairs are deliberately built to an enormous scale, to give one a sense of insignificance and humility, and each step is wider than normal, to force a slow and deliberately mindful walk to the statue of the Buddha. He is placed on a black granite pedestal, and in keeping with tradition, his head is above the height of the common man's heart.
With its depth of symbolism, this remarkable piece takes us back to a different time and world, to 7th century India when Buddhism held sway. In Nagapattinam, a sculptor dedicated to the Buddha began chiseling this image from exquisite pink granite. As he worked, he seemed to beckon life into the stone, infusing spirit and vitality into the sculpture. The seated Buddha, at five feet three inches, exudes an aura of majestic serenity, blending humane and awe-inspiring qualities. The sculptor's artistry had breathed life into lifeless stone. However, with the decline of Nagapattinam in the 8th century and the ascendancy of Hinduism over Buddhism, this pink granite figure along with three others, was rudely overturned and half-buried to serve as a cornerstone for a Hindu water tank.
Centuries later, three of these Buddhas were found, and placed in the care of art curators and collectors: one made its way halfway across the world to our collection at the Mauna Kea, while the others may be found in the Art Institute of Chicago and the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, California.
In its current placement at the Mauna Kea, beneath the bodhi tree (ficus religiosa), this breathtaking sculpture reflects the historical Buddha himself, who is said to have meditated under a bodhi tree in Bodhgaya, India. Compassionate and calm, this Buddha statue invites guests to connect with the serenity it embodies and to consider its rich cultural heritage, filled with the stories of centuries of Indian history.
This treasured piece has been in the Mauna Kea's collection since 1965, when Laurance Rockefeller developed the hotel.Location
Building
SpaArea
MK-Outside