The Buddha statues

Mudra

A Buddha statue

Source: Guiding Technique Chandi Borobudur arisguide

A Buddha statue with several hand positions is called a mudra. The main stupa is in the center, and there are 72 Buddha statues, each seated in a perforated stupa.

Chandi Borobudur has or can be said to be very rich in very beautiful stone statues, namely Buddha statues and all of them depict Dhyani Buddha. Each mudra or palm position represents one of the Five Dhyani Buddhas which has its own name and meaning. Part of many narrative reliefs and ornamental carvings, Buddha statues can be found on the Rupadhatu walls and on the 3 Aruphadatu terraces of th Borobudur building.

Seeing the Buddha statues on the Rupadhatu terrace are placed in niches arranged in a row on the outside of the balustrade. As the terraces decreased in size, the first balustrade had 104 niches, the second also had 104, the third had 88, the fourth had 72, and the fifth had 64, so there were originally 432 statues.

The Arupadhatu statue is placed in a perforated stupa arranged in three concentric circles. The first circular terrace supports 32 domes, the second has 24, and the third 16, so originally there were 72 Dhyani Buddha statues, not visible but partially visible in the stupa. Of the original total of 504 Buddha statues, most are headless, and 43 are missing. At first glance the Buddha statues appear the same, but a closer look reveals striking differences, particularly in the mudras (hand positions).

The Buddhas at the first four balustrades have different mudras, each peculiar to one particular side of the monument. The statues facing East have the same mudras, and so have respectively the Buddhas facing South, ‘West and North. The Buddhas on the uppermost (fifth) balustrade all have the same mudra, regardless of the direction they face. This same mudrabalso characterizes the 72 statues on the three circular terraces.

In other words, the Borobudur statues show five kinds of mudra, corresponding to the five cardinal points of the compass (East, West, North, South, Zenith), and also to the Mahayana conception of the five Dhyani Buddhas. One point of the compass is ascribed to each Dhyani Buddha, and the distinction between the Dhyani Buddhas is indicated by the different mudras.

A Buddha statue with the hand position of dharma chakra mudra.
Source: Guiding Technique Chandi Borobudur arisguide

The five different Dhyani Buddhas are emanations of the Adi Buddha (the Supreme or Primeval Buddha), who generally is not represented in any tangible form.

Bhumisparsa mudra
Source: Guiding Technique Chandi Borobudur arisguide. Foto arisguide.

Name Bhumisparsa mudra - Mean Calling the Earth to witness - Buddha Aksobhya - location on East Rupadhatu niches on the first four eastern balustrades

Vara mudra
Source: Guiding Technique Chandi Borobudur arisguide. Foto arisguide.

Name Vara mudra - Mean Benevolence, alms giving - Buddha Ratnasambhava - Location South Rupadhatu niches on the first four southern balustrades

Dhyana mudra
Source: Guiding Technique Chandi Borobudur arisguide. Foto arisguide.

Name Dhyana mudra - Mean Concentration and meditation - Buddha Amitabha - location West Rupadhatu niches on the first four Western balustrades.

Abhaya mudra
Source: Guiding Technique Chandi Borobudur arisguide

Name Abhaya mudra - Mean Courage, fearlessness - Buddha Amoghasiddhi - North Rupadhatu niches on the first four northern balustrades.

Vitarka mudra
Source: Guiding Technique Chandi Borobudur arisguide

Name Vitarka mudra - Mean Reasoning and virtue - Buddha Vairochana - location Zenith Rupadhatu niches in all directions on the fifth (uppermost) balustrade.

Dharmachakra mudra
Source: Guiding Technique Chandi Borobudur arisguide

Name Dharmachakramudra - Mean Turning the Wheel of dharma (law) - Buddha Vairochana - location Zenith Arupadhatu in 72 perforated stupas on three rounded platforms.

Borobudur, the magnificent and little known temple – the mountain of the virtues – is first a landscape, which over a thousand years ago, met the eyes of those who came on pilgrimage here to seek the inner peace to which all believers in the Buddha aspire.

The mudras
Source: Guiding Technique Chandi Borobudur arisguide

The five different Dhyani Buddhas are emanations of the Adi Buddha (the Supreme or Primeval Buddha), who generally is not represented in any tangible form.

Source: Guiding Technique Chandi Borobudur arisguide

Source: Guiding Technique Chandi Borobudur arisguide