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1717 N. Harwood St. Dallas Texas 75201 The Dallas Museum of Art is supported, in part, by the generosity of DMA Partners and donors, the citizens of Dallas through the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, and the Texas Commission on the Arts. Buddhism developed in India during the green tara seated buddha Tibet subduing mara 6th and 5th centuries B.C. and spread 18th century Thailand 14th–15th century throughout Asia. Once Buddhism’s founder, This gilt bronze sculpture Siddhartha Gautama, attained spiritual represents Syamatara, or With his right hand pointing toward the earth, this Buddha enlightenment, he was called the Buddha, Green Tara, a beneficent female bodhisattva beloved expresses the bhumisparsha or “Awakened One.” Representations of the in Himalayan Buddhism. She mudra, or the earth-touching Buddha serve as a focus for meditation and joins her left thumb and mudra. Here, Buddha calls the earth to witness as he devotion and express the ideas of peace, forefinger in the vitarka mudra, which signifies discussion, teaching, and intellectual argument. is threatened by Mara, a demon that denies him harmony, and the power of enlightenment. The circle formed by the joining of the fingers enlightenment. This mudra initiates the Earth also symbolizes Dharma, or the wheel of law. Goddess’s appearance and aids in the destruction Her lowered hand is in the varada mudra, which of Mara and his armies. Often these representations of the Buddhas represents the granting of wishes, the giving of or bodhisattvas—a person on the path blessings, and charity. sakyamuni buddha toward enlightenment and becoming a Thailand c. 13th century Buddha—express specific hand gestures, buddha Cambodia Here, the Sakyamuni Buddha, called mudras. These gestures symbolize Late 12th–early 13th century or the historical Buddha, various meanings. Visit the Buddhist gallery Sitting atop the coils of the displays the abhaya mudra, in on Level 3 of the DMA and explore various naga serpent king, the Buddha which one or both palms face forward, typically a gesture of mudras and their meanings. Muchalinda’s hands are placed palms up, in his lap, in the dhyana reassurance and blessing. In Thailand, however, the gesture To Level 4 mudra, representing absolute balance and a meditative state. probably references the time The serpent king had lifted the when the Buddha displayed Oceania supernatural powers by holding China Buddha to prevent him from drowning in quickly rising back floodwaters during the conversion of his disciple level 3 Africa waters sent by a demon. Kassapa. In Thai, the gesture is called ham samut (forbidding the ocean pose).

manjushri It is important to note that these gestures do not always mean the same thing to everyone. For example, some mudras Crossroads Tibet Exterior Indonesia Japan in Southeast Asian representations don’t always carry the Egypt 18th–19th century Courtyard same meaning as those in Indian art. Manjushri, thought to be the oldest bodhisattva, represents infinite wisdom. Expressing the common dharmachakra 1 2 Landing mudra—a combination of Egypt the vitarka and jnana mudra— 3 4 5 Japan Indonesia Southeast Asia Manjushri holds both hands before his chest, joining

To Level 2 thumbs and index fingers. This symbolizes the

turning of the wheelJapan of law (Dharma) and his first sermon after achieving enlightenment.

To Reves Collection