A Buddha image (Buddha statue) is a devotional representation created as a symbol of the Fully Enlightened Buddha. It allows Buddhists to pay respects and make offerings, to recollect the Buddha’s virtues, and to cultivate the intention to practice in accordance with his teachings. Buddha images can be made from many materials—such as stone, wood, metal, or clay—and are crafted according to traditional auspicious characteristics of the Buddha.
Meaning and purpose: A representation of the Buddha: Not a realistic portrait, but a symbolic representation of the Buddha, who has already passed into final Nibbana (Parinirvana). A spiritual focus: Used to support recollection of the Buddha and as a stable focal point for the mind in meditation and Dhamma practice. Sustaining the religion: A reminder to preserve and help spread Buddhism so that it endures.