{"product_id":"meditating-buddha-within-the-peepal-leaf-in-sikki-grass-work-by-suraj-kumar-sahu","title":"Meditating Buddha within the Peepal Leaf in Sikki Grass Work by Suraj Kumar Sahu","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-root=\"1\"\u003eThis iconic and beautifully focused composition in Sikki grass work by Suraj Kumar Sahu presents a serene close-up portrait of the Buddha in deep meditation, seamlessly nested within the precise silhouette of a single, massive leaf. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSikki grass craft is a unique, ancient folk art form practiced primarily by women artisans in the Mithila region of Bihar, India. The craft utilizes the wild, golden-hued Sikki grass (Saccharum bengalense), which grows abundantly in local swampy riverbeds and is harvested annually after the monsoons. The process involves drying the stalks, splitting them with a traditional iron needle (takua), and color-dyeing sections before weaving or appliqueing them onto a sturdy, flat base cloth or frame. Celebrated for its natural metallic luster and durability, the art form serves as an important repository of regional mythology and domestic ritual expression, translating complex scriptural iconography into tactile geometric folk textures.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe outer contour of the artwork frames the face perfectly, explicitly taking the distinct, pointed shape of a Peepal Leaf (Ficus religiosa). This design choice carries immense spiritual significance, as the Peepal tree represents the legendary Bodhi Tree under which Prince Siddhartha Gautama sat in unwavering meditation at Bodh Gaya until he shattered all cosmic illusions and attained supreme, unexcelled Enlightenment. \u003cbr\u003eThe Buddha's face is rendered with closed, meditative eyes and elongated earlobes. Buddha's elongated earlobes symbolize both his royal origins and his spiritual awakening. Historically, as a wealthy prince, Siddhartha Gautama wore heavy, ornate gold earrings that permanently stretched his lobes. When he renounced his luxurious life, removing the jewelry left the stretched lobes behind as a lasting symbol of detachment.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe traditional urna on his forehead is a sacred dot or hair whorl located between the Buddha’s eyebrows. It symbolizes his \"Third Eye\" of spiritual vision, supreme wisdom and the divine light that illuminates the universe to end ignorance. His tightly coiled curls built out of individual geometric grass seeds create a powerful emblem of absolute inner stillness and mental clarity, while the Ushnisha, the distinct, three-dimensional bump or crown on top of the Buddha's head represents the attainment of supreme spiritual enlightenment, cosmic openness and the boundless wisdom of an awakened mind.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSet against a deep black background, this simple yet meditative artwork brings peace and devotion to any space, providing a calming and soothing vibe to the viewers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e","brand":"Suraj Kumar Sahu","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48920351277270,"sku":null,"price":8000.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1194\/1498\/files\/1._Meditating_Buddha_within_the_Peepal_Leaf_in_Sikki_Grass_Work_by_Suraj_Kumar_Sahu.png?v=1783336245","url":"https:\/\/www.memeraki.com\/products\/meditating-buddha-within-the-peepal-leaf-in-sikki-grass-work-by-suraj-kumar-sahu","provider":"Memeraki Retail and Tech Pvt Ltd.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}