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Buddha defying Mara
Mara, the Buddhist “Lord of the Senses,” who was the Buddha’s temptor on several occasions. When the bodhisattva Gautama seated himself under the Bo tree to await Enlightenment, the evil Mara appeared first in the guise of a messenger bringing the news that a rival, Devadatta, had usurped the Sakkya throne from Gautama’s family. Next Māra sent forth a great storm of rain, rocks, ashes, and darkness, frightening away all the gods who had gathered to honour the future Buddha. He challenged Gautama’s right to sit beneath the tree, provoking the future Buddha to call upon the earth to give witness to his previous charities.
"Buddha defying Mara" is a common pose of Buddha sculptures. The Buddha is shown with his left hand in his lap, palm facing upwards and his right hand on his right knee. The fingers of his right hand touch the earth, to call the earth as his witness for defying Mara and achieving enlightenment. This posture is also referred to as the bhumisparsa "earth-witness" mudra.
Issued Country Nepal
Issued Year 2007
Category Buddhist Image Buddhist Arts Theme 2: BUDDHA-TeacherOfGods&Mens
Type Postage Stamps
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