Maravijaya Buddha

Buddha Overcoming Mara

After careful consideration and discussion, we’ve decided to sell this family treasure for the benefit of the WLE.
Peter’s mother acquired it in Denmark in the early 1970’s from a friend who was selling her antique business.  If it was in perfect condition, it’s estimated value would be over $10k.  This particular image is attributed to the reign of the Siamese King, Rama the 3rd, who was a Siamese sovereign during the early 19th century.  However, because of it’s damaged right ear (oddly enough, Sarah is deaf in her right ear!) and several missing tiny mirrored “gems” we cannot send it to a proper auction house. Having it authenticated would be too expensive anyway.
At this time, we were able to find similar statues HERE ← LINK

This antique bronze gilded crowned Buddha image in the Mara Vijay (victory over Mara) seated posture is our tangible foundation for becoming a registered non-profit. All the funds received from the sale of this beautiful piece will finally enable us to file for our 501(c)(3) status.

If you or someone you know would be interested, please contact us. We are suggesting $1,500 as a reasonable price for this wonderful icon.

We also welcome all donations. Thank you!
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Among the hallowed images in the Thai iconography of the Buddha, this is probably the most classical. The canonical attitude shows the Blessed One meditating at the ultimate moment of his path towards right living, when he calls upon the Earth to bear witness to his victory, expressed by a slight gesture of his right hand. The “Awakened One” becomes the Buddha at that precise moment, after having triumphed over the attacks of Mara (Death and Evil): the Mara-vijaya.

Far from being his only victory the Mara-vijaya represented the culmination of an entire series of victories. This is only to be expected, because spiritual life is like that. One does not develop the fullness of wisdom all at once or the fullness of compassion all at once. One does not develop the fullness of energy and heroism necessary to defeat Mara and his forces all at once. One does not develop any spiritual quality all at once; one develops it gradually. As the Buddha himself said in the Dhammapada: ‘As a pot becomes full by the constant falling of drops of water, so, little by little, does a man fill himself with good.’