BUDDHISTS will celebrate the birth and enlightenment of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, on Wesak Day which falls on May 12. At Lavanya, the visual arts centre of the Temple of Fine Arts, images of the revered one presently adorn the shelves and occupy every corner.

The Light of Asia is an exhibition of Buddha images of astonishing beauty and grace, handpicked from various regions of Asia where Buddhism is practised, or specially sculpted upon request by award-winning craftsmen from Orissa, India. Lavanya has been organising the event for the last eight years with much success.

The Buddha images have been sold to devotees, art connoisseurs and even to visitors who dropped by and could not resist buying one of the exquisite representations of The Enlightened One.

This year, more than 40 images are at Lavanya’s premises at Jalan Berhala in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur.

Statues, busts and figurines made of soapstone, sandstone, ceramic, wood and metal display the delicate turn of hand of artisans from India, China, Thailand, Bali, Kalimantan and other countries.

The Buddhas are represented seated, reclining or standing with the characteristic markings — the protuberance at the top of the head which signifies exceptional mental acuity and the long earlobes and the mark on the forehead (the third eye) which denote exceptional insight.

The Buddhas are shown in various asanas (postures) and with various mudras (hand gestures) which convey specific meanings, as when the Buddha is teaching, granting a wish, according protection and so forth.

Lavanya this year also has a unique masterpiece — a Kalamkari (a style of painting from the state of Andhra Pradesh, India) work of art of the Buddha’s lifestory on cloth.

Vegetable dyes of deep red shades are used. The cloth was first dipped in a milk solution to prevent colours from running. Kalamkari paintings usually depict stories from epics.

The Light of Asia was launched yesterday with a ceremony by Buddhist monks from the Maha Vihara Buddhist Temple who chanted and blessed the images on sale.

The sale ends on May 14. Prices range from RM100 to RM5,000.

Proceeds from the sales will go towards various charitable causes.

For details, contact Lavanya at 03-2273-5330/1330.

The Temple of Fine Arts Pancatantra Ensemble Theatre will present Journeys to the Buddha on May 6 and 7 at 8pm at its premises in Jalan Berhala.

It is a performance of three monologues exploring the transformation of the mind to knowledge and wisdom by the grace of the Compassionate One. Admission by donation. Call TFA at 03-2274-3709.