A MAGNIFICENT LARGE PARCEL-GILT BRONZE FIGURE OF SHAKYAMUNI BUDDHA, TIBET, 17TH CENTURY |十七世紀 藏傳局部鎏金銅釋迦牟尼佛坐像

The iconographic form in which the historical Buddha is seated, with his right hand in the earth-touching position, bhumisparsha mudra, recalls a momentous episode from his spiritual biography in which he triumphs over Mara just prior to his enlightenment. Having vowed to remain in meditation until he penetrated the mystery of existence, Shakyamuni was visited by Mara, a demon associated with the veils and distractions of mundane existence. The Buddha remained unmoved by all the pleasant and unpleasant distractions with which Mara sought to deflect him from his goal. According to some traditional accounts, Mara's final assault consisted of an attempt to undermine the bodhisattva's sense of worthiness by questioning Shakyamuni's entitlement to seek the lofty goal of spiritual enlightenment and the consequent freedom from rebirth. Aided by spirits who reminded him of the countless compassionate efforts he had made on behalf of sentient beings throughout his numerous animal and human incarnations, Shakyamuni recognised that it was his destiny to be poised on the threshold of enlightenment.

In response to Mara's query Shakyamuni moved his right hand from the meditation position in his lap and touched the ground stating "the earth is my witness". This act of unwavering resolve caused Mara and his army of demons and temptresses to disperse, leaving Shakyamuni to experience his great enlightenment. The episode took place at the adamantine throne, vajrasana, beneath the bhodi tree at Bodh Gaya, eastern India, a location said to have been especially empowered to expedite the Buddha's enlightenment.

A number of other large gilt figures of Buddha has been sold recently at auction, including a 45cm figure of Buddha Ratnasambhava, sold at Christie’s New York, 11^th September 2019, lot 371.

佛像右手下垂作觸地印，寄念釋迦牟尼降魔得道之事蹟。據典，釋迦牟尼在東印度菩提伽耶，菩薩樹下結金剛坐入定，起誓不悟道不離座。欲界天魔之首摩羅，悉其成佛覺悟之願，心生惡念圖擾阻之。釋迦牟尼卻對脅迫誘惑不為所動。據說摩羅曾質問釋迦菩薩，生乃宮廷貴族，憑何悟道成佛、超脫輪迴，試圖作最後一擊，毁其修禪。釋迦念及過去種種因緣，前生輪迴所歷劫難、所作佈施，已抵成佛之際，故堅定地垂右手觸地，令大地為證，摩羅與其手下群魔頓時悉皆迸散，剩釋迦於繁星下，悟三明四諦，證無上正等正覺，終成佛於菩提伽耶，是以該地現成佛教聖地。

其他尺寸較大之鎏金佛像近期亦見於拍賣會，包括一件45公分高之鎏金銅寶生佛佛像，售於紐約佳士得2019年9月11日，編號371。