.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
Often confused with Akshobhya, the representation of Shakyamuni with a vajra resting before him actually refers to the moment when the historical Buddha attained enlightenment. Bodh Gaya, generally accepted as the site where Shakyamuni attained enlightenment, was originally referred to as Vajrasana, and Himalayan sculptors often used the vajra as a visual symbol for this location. As is traditional for representations of this moment in the Buddha's life, he has his hands in bhumisparsamudra, the earth-touching gesture.