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Buddhists use images of buddhas and Bodhisattvas to help them focus when meditating and as inspirations or guides. Buddhists often focus on Siddhartha Gautama (also known as Gautama Buddha), the founder of Buddhism. However, according to Buddhist philosophy, many other people have become Buddhas by attaining enlightenment, and more will do so in the future. For example, Pure Land Buddhists (Mahayana) follow Amida Buddha. All humans, according to Buddhist beliefs, have the potential to become Buddhas (ie they have Buddha-nature).

Images of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas are called Buddharupas. They can be large or small, may be kept inside or outside buildings, can be plain or decorative, and can represent single or multiple figures. They can consist of art, sculpture and statues.

Gautama Buddha

Siddhartha Gautama, also called Gautama Buddha, was the historical figure who created the Dhamma and the Buddhist path. Because of his importance, Buddhists of all kinds and all around the world use images of him as an aid to meditation.

Buddharupas often depict aspects of Gautama Buddha’s path to enlightenment or symbols of Buddhist philosophy. For example, a Buddharupa with elongated ears represents his former life as a prince, and a Buddharupa with a bump or top-knot on its head represents wisdom and enlightenment. He is sometimes shown reclining, which symbolises his final passing into nirvana. Hand gestures represent aspects of the Dhamma – for example, a raised palm represents fearlessness and hands in the lap represent meditation.

Bodhisattvas

Bodhisattvas are beings who have attained enlightenment and who aim to help others to achieve it too. When people achieve enlightenment, they become free from samsara, rebirth and suffering. Due to Bodhisattvas’ aim of helping others to achieve enlightenment, they are often depicted in Buddharupas. They are part of the Mahayana tradition.

The sites where a Bodhisattva or Buddha attained enlightenment are places of pilgrimage and meditation. The most famous is the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India, where Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment.

In Mahayana Buddhism, there are four Bodhisattvas who stand for four attributes. For example, Avalokitesvara is the Bodhisattva of compassion and Manjushri is the Bodhisattva of wisdom.