Consecration: The prepared altar with the Buddha Statue inside the Temple, 1987

Consecration: The prepared altar with the Buddha Statue inside the Temple, 1987

1987

Inside the temple, the altar is especially prepared for the Consecration of the Buddha Statue Ceremony. The statue is seated on the first tier of the altar and is surrounded by other smaller statues that are added to the altar "to lend power." The statue with one leg across the other, the sole of the right foot turned upward, the left hand upward with palm turned upward, and the right hand resting on the right leg with fingers hanging downward, represent the Buddha teaching in a seated position. The toes and fingers, except for the thumb and big toe, are of equal length; the ears are prolonged so they almost reach the shoulders and are marked with the slits made by the heavy golden earrings worn by Siddhatha before he fled his father's palace to become a monk. The head is covered with curled hair, some artists will carve the hair so each curl is turned to the right in accordance with the Pali canon. The face shows great kindness and gentleness, and serenity of spirit.

Consecration of the Buddha Statue, photograph 11 of 45, from Cambodian Traditional Crafts and Religious Ceremonies.

View the Consecration group of photographs in order on the Internet Archive, https://archive.org/details/BuddhaConcecration.

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1 photograph; 8.9 x 12.6

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