A bronze sculpture of Aksobya Antique Buddhist Art from Tibet, 18th Century

The title Buddha means Enlightened One or Awakened One. Buddha Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, lived around 500 BCE and the story of his life is overlaid with legend. Born in the foothills of the Himalayas as the son of a king his given name was Siddhartha and his family name Gautama. Buddha spent his youth in great luxury, married, and fathered a son. At the age of twenty-nine, desiring to see more of the world, he left his palace and took up the life of a wandering ascetic. He learned the inevitability of suffering and death, and saw his destiny. Seating himself beneath a tree at Bodh Gaya he swore not to stir until he had attained supreme enlightenment.

He is portrayed with elongated. He wears a sanghati robe leaves his right shoulder and arm uncovered and a shawl is draped over his left shoulder. Buddha is seated in virasana (legs on top of another) on a double lotus throne with beaded borders. The mudras of his hands are called dhyana and bhumisparsa. The physiognomy of this image is typified by a human and friendly expression. This Buddha is depicted with uplifting eyebrows, closed eyes, a gently smiling mouth, and large curls. The ushnisa, denoting spiritual wisdom, rises from the crown of his head. Elongated earlobes, the result of wearing heavy earrings in his youth, reflect his royal origin.