Fine Quality Hand Carved 8.5" Dhyani Buddha or Pancha Buddha Copper Alloy Statue Set From Patan, Nepal

Dhyani Buddha or Pancha Buddha – The Great Buddhas of Wisdom

The five Great Buddhas of Wisdom are of uncertain origin. All the five Dhyani Buddhas are said to have originated from Vajrasattva himself. But it needs to be appreciated here, that though they have all sprung from the same spiritual father, these Buddhas nevertheless have important physical differences. For example, each displays a different hand mudra, is associated with a different direction, rides a different animal, denotes a particular moment in the life of the historical Buddha, and has a different color.

The last is a unique contribution to the aesthetic heritage which is shared by all humanity. Indeed, the link between our negative emotions and the positive qualities into which the Dhyani Buddhas transform them can be illustrated most directly through the medium and experience of color. It is well known that changing the color of our surroundings can have a profound effect on our state of mind. Color also expresses our emotions, as when we say that we are green with envy or feeling blue. Color is logically thus one of the significant means through which Buddhist art gives a tangible form to human emotions and nowhere is this more explicitly displayed than in the typical iconography of the five Dhyani Buddhas.

Each of the five Buddhas first identifies a specific human failing and then helps us in transforming it into a positive attribute, bringing about the spiritual evolution required for enlightenment. How they inspire us to achieve this transition through their traditional iconography is discussed below.

The five Dhyani Buddhas are:

1. Vairochana

2. Akshobhya

3. Ratnasambhava

4. Amitabha

5. Amoghasiddhi

Gestures and Attributes

The Dhyani Buddhas in a Set are shown in their gesture. Vairochana in Dharmachakra Mudra (Dharma Wheel Teaching Gesture), Akshobhya in Bhumisparsha Mudra (Earth Touching Gesture), Ratnasambhava in Varada Mudra (Bestowing Gesture), Amitabha in Dhyana Mudra (Meditation Gesture) and Amoghasiddhi in Abhaya Mudra (Fearlessness Gesture).

About this Sculpture

Expertly sculpted from copper alloy using lost wax method and gilded with 24 karat gold and hand painted face, the statues are finely hand carved; these statues are beautiful portrayals of Dhyani Buddha or Pancha Buddha Set. These sculptures were individually handcrafted in Patan, Nepal by master artisans of the Shakya clan who are considered among the best in the world. These craftsmen are the modern heirs to a centuries-old tradition of creating sacred art for use in temples and monasteries. The fine metalworking techniques have been passed down from generation to generation since ancient times.