Reclining Buddha
Buddha in parinirvana, Gandhara art, 2nd or 3rd century
Reclining Buddha of Galvihara at Polonnaruwa (Sri Lanka, 12th century)
A reclining Buddha is a statue that represents Buddha lying down and is a major iconographic and statuary pattern of Buddhism. It represents the historical Buddha during his last illness, about to enter the parinirvana. He is lying on the right flank, his head resting on a cushion or relying on his right elbow, supporting his head with his hand.
This pattern seems to have emerged at the same time as other representations of the Buddha in the Greco-Buddhist art of Gandhara.
Notable examples
Reclining Buddha of the Hpo win caves
- Chaukhtatgyi Paya (Yangon)
- Phowintaung, near Monywa
- Mohnyin Thambuddhei Paya: 90 m long (Monywa)
- Shwethalyaung Paya (Bago)
- Manuha Temple (Bagan)
- West side of the Baphuon in Angkor
- Monolithic Buddha of the Phnom Kulen (lying on his left side)
- Cave #26 of Ajanta
- Wat Chaiyamangkalaram in Penang
- Sam Poh Tong in Perak
- Dambulla
- Gal Vihara in Polonnaruwa (12th century)
- Wat Dhammachaksemaram (reclining Buddha of the 7th century in Dvaravati style coming from Muang Sema)
- Wat Lokaya Sutharam in Ayutthaya
- Wat Pho of Bangkok
External links
Media related to Reclining Buddha statues at Wikimedia Commons