Akshobhya, the Buddha of the Eastern Pure Land

Akshobhya, the Buddha of the Eastern Pure Land

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Buddha reaches his right hand down in bhumisparsha mudra, marking the moment when the historic Buddha Shakyamuni called upon the earth goddess to witness his resistance of the forces of Mara, immediately prior to his experiencing enlightenment. In the Esoteric Buddhist tradition, this iconography is associated with Akshobhya, cosmic Buddha of the East. The lotus buds embellishing the mandorla and the open flower serving as his throne may refer to the celestial abode of Akshobhya. This icon may have been integrated into the wall of a stupa or shrine as part of a set of directional Buddhas.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Akshobhya, the Buddha of the Eastern Pure LandAkshobhya, the Buddha of the Eastern Pure LandAkshobhya, the Buddha of the Eastern Pure LandAkshobhya, the Buddha of the Eastern Pure LandAkshobhya, the Buddha of the Eastern Pure Land

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.