| Avendales is pleased to offer collectors and | | | | upper robe of the Buddhist monastic garment, |
| religious practitioners alike a line of | | | | the "triple robe" or tricivara) is worn in |
| exquisitely hand-carved Buddha statues. These | | | | the open mode and the sanghati (the outer |
| Buddha statues are brought to you from | | | | robe of this garment) is folded decoratively |
| village communities all over the countryside | | | | on the left shoulder. This "Mandalay" style |
| of Thailand. These statues are marketed in | | | | of Buddhist statue developed towards the end |
| accordance with the principles and practices | | | | of the eighteenth or in the early nineteenth |
| of Fair Trade, adding strict quality control | | | | century. Mandalay was the last capital |
| and professional organization, using profits | | | | (1860-1885) of the last independent Burmese |
| to help Thai artisans maintain their | | | | Kingdom before annexation by the British |
| traditional skills. Theravada Buddhism has | | | | after the Third Anglo-Burmese War in 1885. In |
| been the predominant religion in Thailand | | | | addition, one can choose a Sitting Thai |
| since early recorded history. For over 2500 | | | | Buddha Statue. 16 inches high and weighing |
| years the people of Thailand have followed | | | | nearly 20 pounds, this statue features the |
| the peaceful and self-reflective teachings of | | | | flame of Illumination rising up from the |
| the Buddha, or "Dharma", which evolved | | | | Buddha's seventh or Crown chakra at the top |
| directly out of the "dharma" of Hinduism, | | | | of the head. This statue embodies the |
| which in that context is "the way things | | | | Theravada Buddhism of Thailand. One of the |
| work". These teachings inform all parts of | | | | best pieces is the Large Standing Royal |
| the society within the kingdom, uniting the | | | | Ayuddhaya Buddha Statue. Five feet tall and |
| Thai people into a harmonious whole. One fine | | | | weighing 25 pounds like the aforementioned |
| choice is the Large Standing Japanese Buddha | | | | standing Buddha statue, this work of art |
| Statue. Standing five feet high and weighing | | | | embodies the "illuminated royalty" of ancient |
| 25 pounds, this statue embodies that time in | | | | Thailand. The inscription of King |
| the 6th century when Buddhism was imported to | | | | Ramkhamhaeng the Great (1292) mentions that a |
| Japan from China and Korea in the form of a | | | | monk from the southern province of Nakorn Sri |
| present from the friendly Korean kingdom of | | | | Dhammaraja - who had studied the Pali |
| Kudara (Paikche). At this time, although | | | | Buddhist Canon (or Tipitaka) from beginning |
| Buddhism was welcomed by the ruling nobles as | | | | to end - lived at the Forest Temple in the |
| Japan's new state religion, it did not | | | | kingdom of Sukhothai and was the Supreme |
| initially spread among the common people due | | | | Patriarch (Pali sangharaja) of the monkhood. |
| to its complex theories. During the Nara | | | | This statement is one of the earliest |
| Period of the 8th century, the great Buddhist | | | | statements used by a king to legitimize his |
| monasteries in the capital city of Nara, such | | | | right to rule in accordance with Buddhist |
| as Todaiji, gained strong political | | | | righteousness. The "New Style" Large |
| influence. This problem of politically | | | | Reclining Mandalay Buddha Statue shows the |
| ambitious and militant monasteries remained a | | | | divine one in much-deserved and sublime |
| main issue for the governments over many | | | | repose. Five feet tall and weighing 25 |
| centuries of Japanese history. The Large | | | | pounds, this statue embodies a Buddhist |
| Standing Japanese Buddha Statue takes one | | | | prophecy for Burma. Unlike other Burmese |
| back to those turbulent times. Another | | | | towns, Mandalay did not grow from a smaller |
| exquisite offering of Buddha statues is the | | | | settlement, although a small village Hti |
| Sitting Royal Mandalay Buddha Statue. 20 | | | | Baunga did exist nearby. Mandalay was set up |
| inches tall and weighing 22 pounds, this | | | | in an empty area at the foot of the 775 ft |
| statue is made in the classical Mandalay | | | | high Mandalay Hill according to a prophecy |
| Buddha style. A broad band stretches across | | | | made by the Buddha that in that exact place a |
| the forehead, and the hair hugs the head in | | | | great city, a metropolis of Buddhism, would |
| tight curls and covers a broad prominent | | | | come into existence on the occasion of the |
| ushnish (a Sanskrit word referring to the | | | | 2400th jubilee of Buddhism. Allegedly this is |
| protuberance at the top of the head of a | | | | precisely what happened. These and other |
| Buddha Rupa representing the flame of supreme | | | | beautiful Buddhist statues are carried by |
| illumination). There is no lotus finial | | | | Avendales for enhancing your home or office |
| above. The images are frequently seated in | | | | artistically, historically, or spiritually. |
| vajrasana (a Yoga posture designed to remove | | | | |
| drowsiness, strengthen the spine, help | | | | Find these in our What's New department at |
| digestion, and enhance meditation) with the | | | | as well as hundreds of other unusual home and |
| right hand in the bhumisparsa mudra and the | | | | garden furnishings, gifts and children's |
| left lying in the lap. The uttarasanga (the | | | | department. |