Buddhas With Prayer Wheel
Seema Sharma Shah, 2017
Etching
101.5 × 152 cm

© Seema Sharma Shah

This work is part of a series I call the Buddha Circuit. The work depicts different forms of the Buddha drawn from statues and archaeological objects found throughout Nepal and India. I have tried to incorporate Buddhas from various locations within Asia such as Lumbini, Vanarasi, and Kathmandu. The floral patterns used in the work are derived from the Ajanta caves in India. The work uses reds and greens to show the contrasts between the sun and the earth and how they can work together towards creating a state of peace and serenity. It is scattered with depictions of animals and flora drawn within the greens to highlight this togetherness. The work is focused on various depictions of Buddah’s life. The centre depicts the Buddha in his meditative state, behind this he is portrayed in the varad mudra, the state of the Buddha in which he blesses. The left side of the work includes depictions of the Buddha receiving his son Rahul from Yashodhara after he returns to his palace to beg for donations. His son Rahul becomes the most precious thing that Yashodhara could grant the Buddha. On the right side of the work the Buddha can be seen preaching to his first five students in Vanarasi. He is depicted in the Dharmachakra Pravartan Mudra with his hands against his chest. This gesture is one of teaching. Dharma means “law” and chakra means “wheel” and is usually interpreted as turning the wheel of law. The work also depicts the Panacha Buddhas in the lower central part of the work, which display different abstract aspects of Buddhahood. They are seated in five positions of meditation. A depiction of the Buddha receiving a bowl of porridge from Sujata before his enlightenment is also shown on the right side of the work. The title of the work is Buddha With Prayer Wheel, as the prayer wheel, which is present in the worship of the Buddha, and the work collectively form a prayer for him.