11" Bhadrasana Maitreya Brass Sculpture | Tibetan Buddhist Deity Idol

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The Prophecy of Maitreya: Exploring the Beliefs and Significance of the Future Buddha

According to Chinese Buddhists, Maitreya is the future Buddha of this world who will appear in this Kalpa (Bhadrakalpa) and will be the fifth and last Buddha. In the Amitabha Sutra and the Lotus Sutra, important Buddhist literature, he is referred to as Ajita. It is believed that his teachings will restore Dharma and a golden age will begin. Some Buddhist literature and texts also mention him in detail. He is Bodhisattva who will appear on earth and will achieve complete Enlightenment only in seven days. His teachings will be similar to those of Gautama Buddha and in this way, he will teach Dharma to the world.

In some Buddhist traditions, it is believed that Maitreya presently resides in Tushita heaven which is located between the Yama heaven and the Niramanarati heaven. All Bodhisattvas stay there before appearing on earth to become Buddhas. He will be born to the Brahmanas, Tubrahma (father) and Brahmavadi (mother) in the city of Ketumati (present Varanasi), Uttar Pradesh, and this will be the time when all humans will live a much longer life, to an age of around eighty thousand years. His teachings will be followed by humanity for the next 180,000 years.

What does Maitreya mean?

The name of Maitreya is derived from the Sanskrit word “Mitra” which means “friend” or “Maitri” which means “friendship”. Buddhist scholars believe that Maitreya, the future Buddha, out of his enormous compassion toward all living beings of this world, will appear to turn their unfortunate lives into a life of meaning and purpose. Looking at them with his eyes full of empathy, he will teach them the right way to live and achieve the main goal of human life, which is to come out of the cycle of repeated births and deaths. In this way, people of this world will again follow the instructions and teachings of Gautama Buddha.

What is the power of Maitreya?

The Maitreya Vyakaran, a short text written during the Pala period, describes how after the disappearance of Gautama Buddha, people will forget his teachings and will engage in sinful activities. During that period, greed, lust, anger, illusion, violence, and false ego will overpower their minds and this will create havoc in human society. This is viewed as the low point of human existence. Then, a new era will begin in which the next Buddha Maitreya will appear and he will teach humanity of the ten non-virtuous deeds, namely, killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, divisive speech, abusive speech, idle speech, covetousness, harmful intent, and wrong views. In this way, under the guidance of the fully awakened Maitreya, people of this world will lead a holy life of oneness and will experience an abundance of joy and happiness.

How to keep a Brass statue well-maintained?

Brass statues are known and appreciated for their exquisite beauty and luster. The brilliant bright gold appearance of Brass makes it appropriate for casting aesthetic statues and sculptures. Brass is a metal alloy composed mainly of copper and zinc. This chemical composition makes brass a highly durable and corrosion-resistant material. Due to these properties, Brass statues and sculptures can be kept both indoors as well as outdoors. They also last for many decades without losing all their natural shine.

Brass statues can withstand even harsh weather conditions very well due to their corrosion-resistance properties. However, maintaining the luster and natural beauty of brass statues is essential if you want to prolong their life and appearance.

• The best and simplest way to maintain a brass statue is to clean it at least twice a week using a soft cloth or cotton rag. This will prevent dust from accumulating on the surface. Dusting is especially important for outdoor statues since it is prone to dust accumulation much more than indoors.

• To give a natural shine and luster to the statue, you may apply coconut or olive oil using cotton on every portion. You can use a toothbrush to get to the small crevices but do not be too harsh. This will make the brass statue appear fresh and new with a polished look.

• In case you have a colored brass statue, you may apply mustard oil using a soft brush or clean cloth on the brass portion while for the colored portion of the statue, you may use coconut oil with a cotton cloth. 

Brass idols of Hindu Gods and Goddesses are especially known for their intricate and detailed work of art. Nepalese sculptures are famous for small brass idols portraying Buddhist deities. These sculptures are beautified with gold gilding and inlay of precious or semi-precious stones. Religious brass statues can be kept at home altars. You can keep a decorative brass statue in your garden or roof to embellish the area and fill it with divinity.