Image title: A typical Posture and Hand-pose

With the legs crossed and upturned feet resting on the thighs, the Buddha on the left sits in one of the most characteristic positions of gods and goddesses. Known as the Diamond, Thunderbolt, or Lotus posture (vajrasana, padmasana), it is typical of meditating deities and of ascetics and Yogis.

The other two Buddhas hold their interlaced hands in a rotating motion known as “Turning the Wheel of the Law” (dharmachakra mudra). It signifies teaching and refers to the preaching of the Buddhas first sermon in the Deer Park at Sarnath, India. The Law (dharma) he set in motion is symbolized by the wheel (chakra), a shape without beginning or end. Although the two images are almost identical their hand poses are slightly different.

Gallery information:

The Patan Museum is located on the Durbar square of Patan (Lalitpur/Lalitapura, Kathmandu, Nepal) which is associated Keshav Narayan Chowk (Keshavnarayan)—a form of Lord Vishnu. Being listed as a World Heritage Site, the whole of Durbar square is filled with exquisite temples, sculptures and other ancient structures, of which the ancient history history can be traced to the Malla Kings of Lalitpur. It is an important site for both Buddhism and Hinduism.