Standing Buddha

This sculpture is one of the finest Buddhist bronzes to survive from south India. The Buddha stands on a circular double-lotus pedestal, with holes for securing the image during processional use.

He gazes outward at the viewer, with his right hand gesturing protection (‘abhaya-mudra’). His monastic robe (‘sanghati’) covers both shoulders. It clings tightly to his body and forms stylised folds at the hem, in a manner characteristic of the eastern Indian Pala style.

The figure displays a number of the auspicious marks (‘laksanas’) denoting Buddha-hood. These include the skull protruberance (‘usnisa’) which has a flame projection - a southern-style motif. The forehead mark (‘urna’) is of the southern ‘hair-curl’ type, resembling an inverted question mark, and the hands have conventional palm markings.