Bronze Statuette of Balinese Buddha, "Earth Witness"

Meditating, Buddha sits in the lotus pose with his hands in the bhumisparsa mudra. This mudra or hand gesture represents the moment when Buddha achieved enlightenment. As the story goes, Buddha was sitting in meditation with his left hand resting palm up in his lap, and his right hand touching the earth. Buddha was challenged by a demon, who asked him for a witness that would attest to his right to achieve enlightenment. To reply he touched the ground, asking Pthivi (the devi of the earth) that she witness his enlightenment. Adi Noviantara of Bali creates this beautiful statuette from bronze, with a slightly antiqued finish.