What is the Meaning of Shakyamuni Buddha Thangka

Thangka painting depicting Shakyamuni Buddha, who is the founder of the Buddhist tradition. He was born in 563 BCE in Nepal. The ancient Sanskrit word 'Buddha' means 'having become awoken' in the sense of having attained 'supreme awareness'. The serene & sublime image of Gautama embodies a condition of compassionate understanding of an awoken illuminated mind.

 

Buddha Shakyamuni was born Siddhartha Gautama, the only son of an Indian king. At his birth it was prophesied that he would either become a great king or the Buddha of this age. At the age of 29, he renounced the luxury of his royal heritage to take up the life of a religious wanderer. He submitted himself to rigorous and extreme ascetic practices, putting forth a superhuman struggle for six strenuous years. At the age of 35, after gaining profound insight into the true nature of reality (Dharma), he attained complete enlightenment.

 

The Buddha Shakyamuni, at the moment of enlightenment, invoked the earth as witness, as indicated by the fingers of his right hand, which spread downward in Bhumisparshana Mudra. As the Buddhist Sutras relate, the sun and moon stood still, and all the creatures of the world came to offer obeisance to the Supreme One who had broken through the boundaries of egocentric existence.