The legend of Buddha's victory over the cunning forces of the demon Mara are well known in the Buddhist tradition and is popularised by a dramatic and rich visual retelling of the episode in Buddhist art. This wooden statue from Nepal is a magnificent presentation of the scene, with Buddha serenely seated in the center, surrounded by the army of Mara which appears to be ferociously attacking the Enlightened One. Demarcating the distinction between Buddha and the basal passions of the world Mara represents, the artists have left an empty space between them in this composition, highlighting their nuanced understanding of the episode.
Shaded by a Stupa rising above the clouds, Buddha is enthroned on a Padmasana held on two Makara and supported by devotees. Buddha dangles his hand in the Bhumisparsha mudra with a smile on his countenance, peacefully calming Vasundhara or Earth to come forth as the witness to his enlightenment. On the upper and lower sections of the statue are various Buddhist divinities, whose presence fills the woodwork with unparalleled heavenliness.
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