Thai-Lao Buddha Iconography

Buddha Statue Iconography: What do Buddha's different poses mean?

In Buddhist art and iconography, the position and posture of a Buddha statue is incredibly significant in its meaning. Each pose has a unique meaning. For example, a reclining Buddha represents the Buddha reaching nirvana; a Buddha with one hand extended represents a comment to stop fighting; and two hands extended represents holding back the floodwaters.

Buddha of the Day

In Thailand, every day of the week has a corresponding color of the day. There is also a Buddha of the day, a posed Buddha image meant to serve as a reminder of an episode from the Buddha's life and of his teachings.

The posture of a Buddha statue is called a mudra, and each represents a different story from the life of the Buddha.

Sunday - Seven Days Looking

After Buddha obtained enlightenment whilst sitting beneath the Bodhi Tree, he spent seven days in wonder. Before going out to teach, the Buddha spent seven days marveling at the world, standing unblinking in deep contemplation beneath the Bodhi Tree.

Monday - Pacifying the Relatives

Buddha encountered relatives who were arguing over water rights. He held out his hand to pacify them, encouraging them to work together and stop fighting.

Tuesday - Realizing Nirvana

At the end of his live, Buddha laid down to die, obtaining Nirvana. Despite approaching his death, reclining Buddhas are always depicted with peaceful faces, as Buddha was already enlightened and unafraid of death.

There's a second reclining Buddha figure. In this story, the Buddha made himself extremely large in order to intimidate and pacify an antagonistic demon. I think the difference is whether or not the statue is depicted with a pillow or not or with eyes open or closed.

Wednesday - Returning with an Alms Bowl

After four years in the ministry, the Buddha (who was raised as a prince), returned home to visit his father. His father, a powerful Indian king, was horrified to see his son dressed as a mendicant and carrying a beggar's bowl. Monks are not allowed to use currency or purchase anything, and rely on donations from the faithful.

Thursday - Meditation in the Lotus Position

The Buddha sat beneath the Bodhi tree in the Lotus Position (which you might know if you have ever tried yoga). This is the "standard" meditation posture - seated cross-legged with hands folded in the lap.

Friday - In Contemplation

The Buddha is depicted standing beneath the Bodhi tree with hands crossed over his chest. After obtaining enlightenment, he was momentarily discouraged from teaching, afraid that his realizations would be incomprehensible to ordinary people.

Saturday - Protected by the Naga King

After his enlightenment, the Buddha sat in meditation for several weeks. When the monsoon season came, he was undeterred by the heavy rain. The Naga King, a mythological serpent, rose up, sheltering Buddha from the rain with his hood.

Luang Prabang Standing Buddha

There are dozens, if not hundreds of different poses, stretching back hundreds of years, and each with its own unique and deep meaning. Of particular interest to art historians and students of iconography, however, may be Luang Prabang's unique standing Buddha posture - the Buddha stands tall, his arms hanging loose at his sides - which can be found nowhere else on earth except in Luang Prabang, Laos.

Standing Buddha statues with their arms held straight down at their sides are a unique feature of the art style of the Kingdom of Luang Prabang (present-day Laos), and are rarely, if ever, found outside of north-central Laos. This unique posture has a very important meaning in Luang Prabang.

The Luang Prabang-style standing Buddha image represents the Buddha calling for rain - something that would be very important in the landlocked, but heavily agricultural, Laos.