Image title: Maitreya, the Buddha to Come

Maitreya, the Buddha to Come [Nepal, 18th century Copper repoussé, bronze Object 320]—

In this contemplative image Maitreya, “The Benevolent,” is Turning the Wheel of the Law (dharmachakra or dharmacakra mudra) in the Tushita Heaven. There as a Bodhisattva he teaches Buddhist doctrine to celestial beings until he descends to this world as the future mortal Buddha.

Dressed in princely raiment and splendid ornaments (some are missing), his hair is braided into an elaborate ascetic’s chignon. It supports a chaitya, or stupa, the sacred monument of the Buddhist world. The chaitya is Maitreya’s most characteristic attribute and refers to the belief that Shakyamuni Buddha’s garments are enclosed in a stupa near Bodhgaya to which at his descent Maitreya will go to retrieve them. Other typical attributes of Maitreya are the ascetic’s water vessel and a wheel.

As a Bodhisattva Maitreya—often called “Maitri” in Nepal—is believed to be active in this world and although his Buddha-hood is yet to come he is sometimes depicted as a Buddha seated with pendant legs.

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.