Seated on a lotus throne, the gilt bronze sculpture of the Shakya prince in meditation pose bears closer stylistic affinity with the eastern Indian style of the Pala period (8th-12th centuries). When Mara came to distract his concentration during meditation, Shakyamuni gently placed his right hand on earth, requesting earth to bear witness. This proved to Mara that Shakyamuni had not been affected by fear, lust, anger or any other form of distraction brought on by Mara. Mara even questioned his entitlement for spiritual enlightenment. For this Shakyamuni recalled all his pious deeds of the previous births and remained steadfast touching the earth in the bhumisparsha mudra.
