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| Buddha |
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| India; Gupta period (c. 319 - 6th century), 6th century |
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| Copper alloy |
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| H. 14 1/8 in. (35.9 cm) |
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| Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection of Asian Art |
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| 1979.007 |
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| This Buddha exhibits many characteristics that indicate his perfected and supernormal nature. These include a bump atop the head signifying his expanded wisdom (ushnisha) and downcast eyes symbolizing his understanding and mastery of meditation. His elongated earlobes refer to his early life as Prince Siddhartha, when he wore heavy earrings; these holes remind the faithful that they, too, should reject worldly goods and pleasures. The Buddha sits in the posture of meditation, his chest swollen with indrawn breath, and performs the teaching gesture (dharmachakra mudra). A u-shaped fixture on the back of his head and two slots in the base were used to attach a large bodyhalo to the sculpture.
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