The ceremony to place the statue of Buddha Konagamana will take place on Ba Den Mountain (Tay Ninh) on 29/12 (the 10th day of the 11th lunar month), presided over by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha. Visitors and Buddhists nationwide, especially from the Southern region, are welcome to attend and pay homage before the new year.
The statue will be situated in Uu Dam Garden, a meditation garden at the highest point of Ba Den Mountain. The mountain, located about 100 km northwest of Ho Chi Minh City (TP HCM), stands 968 m tall and is known as the "Roof of the Southern Region".
The 7.2 m tall statue depicts Buddha in the lotus position (kiet gia) on a lotus pedestal set amidst a golden lotus pond. Its entire surface is gilded with 24k gold, crafted from red copper using high-pressure processing technology.
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The statue of Buddha Konagamana in the lotus position, placed in the highest meditation garden on Ba Den Mountain. Photo: Sun Group |
The statue of Buddha Konagamana in the lotus position, placed in the highest meditation garden on Ba Den Mountain. Photo: Sun Group
The Buddha is intricately carved with a gentle smile and downcast eyes, facing east. The right hand forms the giao hoa mudra, symbolizing the teaching phase of his life. The left hand holds a fig fruit, an image associated with his enlightenment journey under the Udumbara tree.
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The statue faces east with an intricately carved face and gently opened, downcast eyes. Photo: Sun Group |
The statue faces east with an intricately carved face and gently opened, downcast eyes. Photo: Sun Group
Surrounding the statue is the circular Uu Dam waterfall, 50 m in diameter and 12 m high, constructed from 32 golden pillars representing the 32 auspicious marks of the Buddha. The waterfall cascades into the golden lotus pond, symbolizing the wishes for prosperity and fortune from Buddhists everywhere.
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The right hand of Buddha Konagamana forms the giao hoa mudra, while his left hand holds a fig fruit. Photo: Sun Group |
The right hand of Buddha Konagamana forms the giao hoa mudra, while his left hand holds a fig fruit. Photo: Sun Group
In Buddhist culture, Buddha Konagamana translates from Sanskrit as Kanakamuni and from Pali as Konagamana, meaning "the golden one" or "the one who brings golden times". Buddhist scriptures record that the Buddha renounced worldly life to practice six months of asceticism, achieving enlightenment under the Udumbara tree.
Udumbara is the Sanskrit name for the fig tree, its flower, and fruit, a mythical flower in Buddhism said to bloom once every 3,000 years. This plant, its flower, and fruit are associated with the meaning of "auspicious flower". In folk beliefs, the fig tree also symbolizes abundance, completeness, and good fortune.
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Ba Den Mountain peak seen from above. Photo: Sun Group |
Ba Den Mountain peak seen from above. Photo: Sun Group
Buddha Konagamana is the third large statue placed on Ba Den Mountain, alongside the statues of Bodhisattva Tay Bo Da Son and Maitreya Bodhisattva. The Maitreya statue is composed of 6,688 natural sandstone blocks arranged in a stepped pattern, forming 54 layers. The Bodhisattva Tay Bo Da Son statue stands 72 m tall, cast from 170 tons of copper, depicting a majestic standing posture on the mountain peak.
A representative of the tourist area stated that each statue represents a distinct point in time, spanning from the past, present, to the future, forming a continuous thread. "With these three statues, Ba Den Mountain becomes a destination for Buddhists and visitors to pay homage and pray for good fortune, especially before the new year", the representative added.
Dan Minh
