Fig. 4 When Siddhartha, Shakyamuni Buddha-to-be, left his father's palace, he gave up all his material possessions. As a result, buddhas are usually shown clothed in the plain garments of a monk and without jewelry. However, buddha images created in the service of Vajrayana Buddhism, a later esoteric branch of the religion, are sometimes shown crowned and wearing jewels. Among other things, these adornments emphasize the Buddha's role as a universal sovereign.