Jewelled House Buddha (Ratanaghara mudra), a profound masterpiece representing "The Architecture of Wisdom" and the luminous clarity that arises from deep contemplation.
Stillness, Study, and the Light of Truth
In our third feature for the Buddha Statues & Gestures exhibition, we explore a moment of intense mental brilliance: The Buddha within the Jewelled House. While February celebrated the Buddha’s outward journey, March invites us into the inner dimensions of the mind, where the most complex truths of existence were realized.
Understanding the Gesture: The Jewelled House
The Anatomy of Contemplation
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The Posture: The Buddha is seated in a calm, cross-legged position (often the Vajrāsana or Diamond lotus position), housed within a miraculous "Jewelled Chamber." This signifies a mind that is protected, focused, and unshakeable.
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The Hands:
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Right Hand: Placed face-down on the knee, grounding his immense wisdom to the earth.
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Left Hand: Placed face-up on the lap, open to the infinite depths of the Dhamma. (Note: Variations may show both hands folded in the lap, symbolizing total meditative absorption.)
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The Story Behind the Radiance
A Mansion of the Mind This posture commemorates the fourth week after the Buddha’s Enlightenment. Located northwest of the Bodhi Tree, the Buddha entered a "Jewelled House" (Ratanaghara) created by the deities to honour his achievement. Here, he spent seven days in continuous contemplation of the Abhidhamma—the higher, most intricate teachings of reality.
The gesture highlights three extraordinary aspects of this moment:
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The Birth of the Six-Colored Radiance: It is said that during the first three weeks of his enlightenment, the Buddha’s physical form remained hushed. It was only in the fourth week, as he turned his mind to the deepest laws of the universe, that his body began to emit the Chabbanna Rangsī—a spectacular six-colored aura of light.
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The Power of Reflection: The "Jewelled House" symbolizes that the Dhamma itself is the most precious of all mansions. It suggests that when we study the truth with a clear mind, we create a beautiful, luminous space within ourselves.
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Intellectual Clarity: This stage of the Buddha's journey represents the peak of spiritual intelligence. It reminds us that peace is not just found in quietness, but in the vibrant, glowing clarity that comes from truly understanding the nature of life.