Buddha Images & Their Corresponding Days of the Week

For me, the sight of a statue of Buddha brings serenity. For many others, seeing a statue of Buddha gives the viewer the hope that one day they may reach the level of peace and joy that emanates from the statue itself.

But upon further examination, have you ever wondered what the hand positions on statues and images of Buddha signify? Do the positions mean anything? Well, the answer is yes, the hand positions on statues and images of Buddha mean a great deal. As it turns out, the statue's image and posture signify different events in the Buddha's life. Buddha did not encourage his believers to create statues in his image during his lifetime, however after his death, in approximately 543 B.C., statues in his image started being created. After a time, Buddha images were assigned to represent the days of the week. In Buddhist Temples, these images are arranged on a long counter. Believers pay their respects by dropping money in the offering bowls placed in front of each statue.

Below are descriptions of both hand and feet positions and overall posture on statues of Buddha and the days of the week to which they correspond:

Sunday: "Seven Days Looking"

Buddha is shown standing, his hands held down over his body, his left hand covered by his right. This posture represents the period after Buddha had realized "Enlightenment". He achieved enlightenment as he sat for seven days in meditation under the bod-hi tree, after which he then stood for an even longer period, still in his meditative state.

Monday: There are actually three different images which can correspond to this day.

"Pacifying the Relatives" - Buddha is shown standing with his right hand raised, his right palm facing outward. This posture represents Buddha calming family members who are in disagreement with one another.

"Forbidding the Sandalwood Image" - Buddha is shown with his left hand raised, his left palm facing outwards. This posture represents Buddha as he stops a sandalwood image in his likeness from rising off an altar.

"Mastery over Passions" - Buddha is shown with both hands raised, with both palms facing outwards. This posture represents Buddha calming the ocean and performing a miracle in the process.

Tuesday: "Realizing Nirvana"

Buddha is shown reclining on his right side, his right hand propping up his head, his left arm lying along his body and his toes even. This posture represents Buddha's death and his entry to Parinibbana. According to the ancient texts, his last words to his disciples were "As a flame blown out by the wind goes to rest and cannot be defined so the wise man freed from individuality goes to rest and cannot be defined. Gone beyond all images, gone beyond the power of words."

Wednesday: There are two different images which can correspond to this day.

"Holding the Alms Bowl" - Buddha is shown standing, holding an alms bowl. This posture represents Buddha, who after four years into his ministry, went to visit his father. Buddha's father was mortified when Buddha "begged" for food while holding the alms bowl. Buddha calmed his father by revealing that all those who were to come after him (his "lineage") were to be available to followers who would faithfully bring them food.

"In the Temple Garden" - Buddha is shown seated in a temple garden, with a nearby elephant offering a bowl of fruit and an approaching monkey offering a honeycomb. This is a posture associated with the evening hours and represents Buddha seeking solitude to meditate without disturbance. As he did so, the forest animals brought him food necessary to sustain him.

Thursday: "The Meditating Buddha"

Buddha is shown sitting, in the classic meditative lotus pose. Both soles of the feet are oriented upward and are visible, both hands resting in his lap, palms upwards, his right hand above the left, all fingers extended. This posture represents the body being receptive to energy, as the energy enters through the top of the head and through the open palms and upward oriented soles of the feet.

Friday: "Contemplating Buddha"

Buddha is shown standing, his hands resting across his chest, his right hand covering his left. This posture represents a complete "Spiritual Transformation". He expresses a benevolent tranquility realized through meditation, which enables him to see clearly in all things.

Saturday: "Protected by the King of the Nagas"

Buddha is shown sitting on a large coiled cobra, which rises and uses its hood to shelter and protect him from a violent storm and raging waves. Buddha sits deep in meditation, not aware of the ferocity of the storm around him, while the King of the Nagas, Mucalinda, carries him safely above the treacherous waves.

One Additional Pose Not Specific to Any Day of the Week: "Victory Over Mara"

This is one of the most widely used poses for statues of Buddha. Buddha is shown seated in meditation, both soles of the feet are oriented upward and are visible, his left hands resting in his lap, palm upwards, his right hand resting on his right leg, palm facing down, the fingers of his right hand touching the earth. This classic pose confirms to all Creation his ability to rise above temptations, fears, falsehoods and worldly desire.