Eyes of Buddha explained

The Eyes of Buddha (also called Buddha eyes or Wisdom eyes[1]) is a symbol used in Buddhist art. The symbol depicts two half-closed eyes, a style sometimes referred to as the Adamantine View (Sanskrit: Vajradrsti|italic=yes).[2] In between and slightly above the eyes is a circle or spiral which represents the urna,[3] one of the thirty-two characteristics of a great man (Sanskrit: Mahāpuruṣalakṣaṇa|italic=yes) in Buddhism. Directly below the urna is a curly symbol stylized as १, which represents the number one in Devanagari numerals.[4] [5] The curly symbol, which represents either a nose or a divine fire emanating from the urna above, symbolizes unity.

The Eyes of Buddha symbol represents the all-seeing eyes of the Buddha,[6] or sometimes more specifically represents the eyes of the Ādibuddha.

On stupas

The Eyes of Buddha are painted[7] onto the upper portions of many Tibetan-style stupas, mostly throughout Nepal.[8] The symbol is painted on all four sides of the cube at the top of the stupa to symbolize the Buddha's wisdom seeing all things in all four cardinal directions. Two of the most well-known examples are the historic stupas at Swayambhunath[9] and Boudhanath,[10] which both comprise two of the seven Kathmandu Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site monuments located in Kathmandu in Nepal.[11]

Other uses

Similar to its use on stupas, the symbol is painted on the upper portion of many caityas. The symbol is also sometimes inscribed on mani stones alongside the Sanskrit mantra Om mani padme hum as a form of prayer in Tibetan Buddhism.[12]

The Eyes of Buddha are painted on the silo housing the world's largest kaleidoscope, the Kaatskill Kaleidoscope in Mount Tremper, New York.[13]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Issitt, Micah L. . Hidden religion : the greatest mysteries and symbols of the world's religious beliefs . 2014 . . 978-1-61069-477-3 . Santa Barbara, California . 188 . 870699557 . 9 August 2022 . 10 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220810000804/https://www.worldcat.org/title/hidden-religion-the-greatest-mysteries-and-symbols-of-the-worlds-religious-beliefs/oclc/870699557 . live .
  2. Book: Gutschow, Niels . The Nepalese caitya : 1500 years of Buddhist votive architecture in the Kathmandu Valley . 1997 . Menges . 3-930698-75-7 . Stuttgart . 21 . 38029358 . 9 August 2022 . 10 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220810000804/https://www.worldcat.org/title/nepalese-caitya-1500-years-of-buddhist-votive-architecture-in-the-kathmandu-valley/oclc/38029358 . live .
  3. Fingesten . Peter . Sight and Insight: A Contribution Toward An Iconography of the Eye . Criticism . 1 . 1 . 19–31 . 1959 . 23091098.
  4. Book: Penney, Sue . Buddhism . Heinemann Library . 2001 . 1-57572-354-9 . . 26 . 44612945 . On all four sides of the stupa, painted eyes represent the all-seeing eyes of Buddha. The 'nose' between them is a Nepalese number one, a symbol of unity. . 9 August 2022 . 10 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220810000805/https://www.worldcat.org/title/buddhism/oclc/44612945 . live .
  5. Gautam . Bhim Lal . 2022-02-01 . Language politics in Nepal: A socio-historical overview . Journal of World Languages . en . 7 . 2 . 355–374 . 10.1515/jwl-2021-0010 . 245890297 . 2169-8260 . The Nepali language in the Devanagari script is the language of the nation of Nepal. . free .
  6. News: 21 July 1972 . Nepal an exotic nation . 13 . . 9 August 2022 . . 10 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220810000806/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107250607/alberni-valley-times/ . live .
  7. Book: Marceau, Jo . Art : a world history . Dorling Kindersley . 1998 . 0-7513-0453-0 . London . 338 . 40050950 . 9 August 2022 . 10 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220810000805/https://www.worldcat.org/title/art-a-world-history/oclc/40050950 . live .
  8. Lotus eyes of the Buddha . Olschak . Blanche Christine . Wangyal . Geshé Thupten . . December 1974 . 27 . 11 . 28–29 . Internet Archive.
  9. Ostrowski . A. . The Framing of Religion: Nepal TV Explored . South Asian Popular Culture . 2006 . 4 . 1 . 3–18 . 10.1080/14746680600555410 . 142489523 . . 9 August 2022 . 10 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220810000816/https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsbl&AN=RN189136119&site=eds-live&scope=site . live .
  10. News: 22 November 2016 . Nepal's earthquake-hit Boudhanath stupa reopens after restoration . . 9 August 2022 . 22 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190822121400/https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2016/nov/22/nepals-earthquake-hit-boudhanath-stupa-reopens-after-restoration-private-donations . live .
  11. Web site: Kathmandu Valley . 9 August 2022 . . 31 October 2005 . https://web.archive.org/web/20051031092004/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/121 . live .
  12. Book: Gurawa, Anju . Tibetan diaspora : Buddhism and politics . 2009 . National Book Organisation . 978-81-87521-24-2 . New Delhi, India . 40 . 320661925 . 9 August 2022 . 10 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220810000810/https://www.worldcat.org/title/tibetan-diaspora-buddhism-and-politics/oclc/320661925 . live .
  13. News: Gitter . Dean . 26 July 1996 . Buddhist Symbol at Home in the Catskills . A–28 . . 9 August 2022 . 9 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220809062740/https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/26/opinion/l-buddhist-symbol-at-home-in-the-catskills-012157.html . live .

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