Large Buddha Statue - Antique Khmer Style Wood Standing Protection Monday Buddha Statue - 174cm/70"

Antique Khmer Style Large Wood Standing Protection Monday Buddha Statue - 174cm/70"

Measures (Height) 174cm/70"

A large antique 12th century Angkor Wat style teak wood Buddha from Cambodia. The enlightened Buddha is depicted in the double Abhaya mudra offering protection to the devotee.

In the serene world of Buddhist iconography, the Abhaya Buddha emerges as a symbol of fearlessness and compassion. The gentle gesture of the raised hand, offering reassurance and protection, distinguishes this representation of the Buddha.

The peaceful countenance of Lord Buddha exudes harmony. The Abhaya mudra "gesture of fearlessness" is a mudra (gesture) that offers protection, reassurance and safety.

Dispelling fear and according divine protection and bliss in many Indian religions. Both hands are held upright, and the palms are facing outwards. This is one of the earliest mudras found depicted on a number of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain images.

The Abhaya Buddha is characterized by a specific mudra, or hand gesture, known as the Abhaya Mudra. In this gesture, each hand is raised with the palm facing outward, fingers extended upwards, and the arm positioned at shoulder height. The Abhaya Mudra symbolizes fearlessness, protection, and the dispelling of fear.

This is also the Buddha for those born on a Monday. The Buddha has a peaceful countenance with downcast introspective eyes and a firm brow. His earlobes are stretched long from a youth spent as a prince wearing heavy gold earrings. The large ushnisha protuberance on top of his head, symbolizes his high level of spiritual development, rises to a stylised lotus bud finial.

The Abhaya Buddha's symbolism is often integrated into meditation practices. Meditating on the fearlessness and compassion represented by this Buddha can serve as a powerful tool for individuals seeking to cultivate these qualities in their own lives.

The Abhaya Buddha, with its powerful mudra and compassionate presence, invites us to embrace fearlessness and cultivate compassion in our journey through life. As we contemplate the symbolism of the raised hand and the teachings it embodies, may we find inspiration to face challenges with courage, extend compassion to others, and walk the path towards inner peace and fearlessness.

The Abhaya Buddha stands as a timeless beacon, guiding us towards a life filled with courage, compassion, and the dispelling of fear.

The carving is beautiful as you can see in the fine details of the face and hands. Each detail is rendered perfectly. The distinctive patina of the piece is also particularly delightful.

To aid with safe shipping your Buddha will be wood crated before shipping. The cost of crating, package and shipping is included within our price. 

Key Features

• Large antique Khmer‑style Buddha – Impressive teak‑wood sculpture inspired by the refined sacred art of 12th‑century Angkor Wat Cambodia.

• Double Abhaya mudra – Both hands are raised with palms facing outward in the rare and powerful gesture of fearlessness, offering reassurance, refuge and protection. This mudra is traditionally associated with peace, benevolence and the dispelling of fear.

• Monday Buddha – In Thai Buddhist tradition, this standing, double‑handed Protection Buddha is associated with those born on a Monday.

• Hand‑carved teak wood – Crafted from substantial teak, valued for its dense grain, durability and warm natural character.

• Serene facial expression – Downcast, introspective eyes, a firm brow and composed features express meditative calm and compassionate authority.

• Sacred iconographic details – Long earlobes recall the Buddha’s former princely life and subsequent renunciation; the prominent ushnisha rises to a stylised lotus‑bud finial, signifying spiritual attainment.

• Fine carving throughout – Delicate articulation in the face, hands, robe and hair demonstrates careful workmanship and gives the figure a quietly commanding presence.

• Characterful aged finish – A distinctive patina enhances the teak’s surface, depth and time‑worn beauty.

• Statement spiritual focal point – A meaningful centrepiece for a meditation room, entrance hall, living space, wellness setting or dedicated shrine.

• Professional wood crating included – The Buddha will be securely wood‑crated for shipping; crating, packing and shipping costs are included in the price.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is an Abhaya Buddha?
A: An Abhaya Buddha is an image of the Buddha making the Abhaya mudra, or “gesture of fearlessness.” The open palms signal reassurance, peace and compassionate protection, inviting the viewer to meet uncertainty with calm and courage.

Q: What does “double Abhaya mudra” mean?
A: Most Abhaya images show one raised hand—usually the right—but this Buddha raises both hands, palms outward. This double gesture gives the sculpture an especially powerful protective character, expressing the dispelling of fear in every direction and the Buddha’s role as a refuge of peace.

Q: Why are the palms facing outward?
A: The outward-facing palms are a universal visual sign of non‑violence, peaceful intention and reassurance. In Buddhist iconography, the gesture conveys: “Do not be afraid”—an offering of safety, benevolence and inner steadiness.

Q: Is this the Buddha associated with Monday?
A: Yes. In the Thai system of Buddha images for the days of the week, the standing Buddha with both hands raised in Abhaya mudra is traditionally associated with Monday. It is therefore a particularly meaningful image for someone born on a Monday.

Q: What style is this Buddha?
A: The sculpture is made in a Khmer Angkor Wat style, inspired by 12th‑century Cambodian sacred art. Its solemn expression, elongated earlobes, elevated ushnisha and balanced, frontal composition reflect a long Southeast Asian tradition in which Buddhist imagery absorbed and reinterpreted earlier Khmer artistic forms.

Q: Is it a 12th‑century original?
A: The piece is described as an antique teak Buddha in 12th‑century Angkor Wat style. The date reference identifies the historical style and visual inspiration; it should not automatically be read as confirmation that the object itself was carved in the 12th century.

Q: What wood is the Buddha carved from?
A: It is carved from teak wood, a dense hardwood widely valued for its strength, natural grain and enduring appeal. Its warm tonal character and ability to hold fine carving make it particularly suitable for a large sacred image such as this.

Q: What do the downcast eyes represent?
A: The lowered, introspective eyes communicate meditative awareness—a gaze directed neither outward in distraction nor completely withdrawn from the world. Alongside the firm brow and composed mouth, they give the Buddha a quality of quiet compassion, balance and inward strength.

Q: What is the meaning of the long earlobes?
A: The elongated earlobes recall Siddhartha Gautama’s early life as a prince, when heavy gold earrings stretched his ears. After renouncing royal privilege, the long ears became a symbol of the Buddha’s transformation from worldly wealth to inner wisdom, compassion and spiritual wealth.

Q: What is the ushnisha on the top of the head?
A: The ushnisha is the raised cranial protuberance seen in traditional Buddha imagery. It represents the Buddha’s exceptional wisdom and advanced spiritual realisation. On this sculpture it rises into a stylised lotus‑bud finial, deepening the association with purity, spiritual awakening and enlightenment.

Q: Why is the lotus‑bud finial significant?
A: The lotus grows from muddy water yet opens into an immaculate bloom. In Buddhist symbolism, it represents the possibility of awakening beyond difficult conditions—purity, compassion and the gradual unfolding of wisdom. The lotus at the summit of the Buddha’s head gives the image an uplifting vertical rhythm and a visual sense of spiritual ascent.

Q: What does this Buddha symbolise for a home or meditation space?
A: This Protection Buddha is a reminder to cultivate calm when faced with uncertainty, to respond rather than react, and to extend compassion to others. In a home, workspace or wellness setting, the double Abhaya gesture creates a strong atmosphere of welcome, reassurance and peaceful authority.

Q: Can I use this Buddha as a focus for meditation?
A: Yes. You might sit before the sculpture and contemplate the gesture’s message: fear can be acknowledged without being allowed to govern your actions. During meditation, the Buddha can serve as a reminder to soften the breath, steady the body and meet challenges with courage and kindness.

Q: Is it suitable for a shrine or devotional practice?
A: Yes. The sculpture may be placed on a clean, elevated altar or plinth and used as a focus for meditation, silent reflection, incense, flowers or other offerings, according to your own tradition and practice. Its symbolism is particularly fitting for prayers for protection, courage and peace of mind.

Q: Is it respectful for a non‑Buddhist to display a Buddha statue?
A: Yes. Buddha images are appreciated by people of many backgrounds as symbols of peace, wisdom and compassion. Respectful display is important: place the statue in a clean, considered location; do not set it directly on the floor; and avoid using it in a trivial or disrespectful context.

Q: Where should I position the Buddha?
A: A living room, entrance hall, library, study, meditation room or dedicated shrine can all work well. Choose a quiet and uncluttered place, ideally with the statue elevated above floor level and not squeezed into a busy passageway. Traditional practice generally avoids placing Buddha images in bathrooms, directly beneath stairs or in other utilitarian areas.

Q: Which direction should the Buddha face?
A: There is no single mandatory direction for every household. Practically, position the Buddha facing into the room or toward the main approach, so the open palms create a welcoming, protective presence. The most important consideration is a respectful, stable and visually calm placement.

Q: Can I place other objects around the statue?
A: Yes—simple offerings such as fresh flowers, a candle or LED tealight, a small bowl of water, incense or a clean cloth can complement a shrine setting. Keep any objects lower than the Buddha and avoid crowding the sculpture, particularly around its raised hands.

Q: Is this suitable for outdoor use?
A: We recommend indoor display only. Although teak is naturally durable, an antique carving and its aged patina can be affected by persistent rain, frost, strong UV light, pollution and repeated fluctuations in temperature and humidity.

Q: How should I care for the teak and patina?
A: Gently dust with a soft, dry microfibre cloth or a soft natural‑bristle brush, working carefully around the hands, face and carving. Avoid furniture sprays, waxes, oils, metal cleaners, abrasive products and solvent‑based chemicals; these can stain, darken or strip the aged surface. Do not soak or immerse the sculpture.

Q: Should I oil or polish the wood?
A: Not without professional conservation advice. The existing patina is part of the sculpture’s historic character, and applying oil, wax or commercial polish can irreversibly alter its finish. Gentle dry dusting and a stable indoor environment are normally all that is required.

Q: What if I notice cracks, movement or surface change?
A: Small age‑related changes can be normal in antique wood, particularly as wood responds to humidity. Keep the piece away from radiators, fireplaces, air‑conditioning vents and direct sun. If a crack expands, a joint loosens or material appears unstable, consult a qualified wood conservator before attempting any repair.

Q: How heavy is it, and how should it be installed?
A: As this is described as a large teak Buddha, confirm the weight and base measurements before final installation. Use a robust floor, pedestal or plinth capable of supporting it safely, and ensure it cannot be knocked or tipped. Two or more people, or professional art handlers, are recommended for moving a substantial sculpture.

Q: Does the plinth or stand need special protection?
A: If placing the Buddha on wood, stone or painted furniture, use discreet protective pads beneath the base to prevent scratches and distribute weight. Ensure the surface is level and avoid soft furnishings, unstable shelving or narrow ledges.

Q: How will it be shipped?
A: The Buddha will be professionally packaged and wood‑crated before dispatch to protect it during transit. The stated price includes the cost of crating, packaging and shipping, providing added reassurance for a large, delicate wood sculpture.

Q: What happens when the crate arrives?
A: Arrange for adequate space, appropriate lifting help and any tools needed to open the crate carefully. Photograph the crate and packaging before unwrapping in case of a delivery issue, then retain the packaging until you have fully checked and safely installed the sculpture.

Q: Who is this piece best suited to?
A: This substantial Khmer‑style Protection Buddha will appeal to collectors of Asian and Cambodian art, Buddhist practitioners, interior designers and anyone seeking a meaningful focal point. Its presence is especially suited to spaces intended for reflection, healing, hospitality, meditation and calm, confident living.

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