Daibutsu

Great Buddha
Todaiji Temple, Nara
October 9, 2015
JTB Tour 2

The Nara Daibutsu or the Great Buddha of Nara

Inside the Todaiji Temple's main hall, the prominent Nara Daibutsu or Great Buddha of Nara is an incredible sight to behold.  On an elevated stage directly in front of it was a group of monks chanting. They were rehearsing for an important prayer event.

Here's a short video clip.

The monks working hard in preparation for a special occasion.

The lower platform is neatly laden with tatami mats and instruments.

I was in awe of the large statue. With my eyes, I traced its every intricate detail. Behind its bronze body is a shiny gold backdrop embellished with tiny buddha figures. I'm guessing it's the halo.

To give you an idea of the enormous size:  the bronze lotus petal next to the Great Buddha is 10 feet tall.

With this photo, you can gauge the enormity of this building and the Great Buddha.

The Vairocana Buddha is the Todaiji Temple's chief object of worship. It is known to be the "Buddha that shines throughout the world like the sun." Though it has been damaged several times due to fires or earthquakes, it has always been repaired. It's astounding to realize that the current statue dates back to 1692.

For scale, I took this picture showing tourists taking photos of the Great Buddha.

Seated next to the Great Buddha is a Bodhisattva or enlightened one, known to help people overcome their obstacles.

To the left of the Great Buddha is Kokuuzo Bosatsu, the Bodhisattva of wisdom and memory.

Look at the exquisite and gilded back side of the Bodhissattva statue.

One of the most imposing statues inside the hall is the a highly detailed wooden carving of Koumokuten, a Celestial guardian and protector of Buddha's realm.

The giant statue of the guardian Koumokuten is a detailed wooden carving.

Near this giant statue is the popular "healing pillar." The wooden pillar has a small opening where visitors endeavor to crawl through. If successful, one is believed to find lasting enlightenment and a guaranteed place in heaven.

The Great Buddha Hall or Daibutsuden, the largest wooden structure in the world.

The Daibutsuden has also been destroyed many times in the past because of fires of war and natural disasters. But it was always rebuilt to house the Great Buddha. The current building is only about 1/3 smaller than the original, yet it is the world's largest wooden structure.

A closer look at the Octagonal Lantern, one of the oldest treasures of the temple.

 

The monks walking back to the monastery after their rehearsal.

 

Some fun facts:

Great Buddha Hall
Height = 159.89 feet

Great Buddha
Height of Body = 48.91 feet
Length of Head = 17.39 feet
Length of Eye = 3.34 feet
Length of Ear = 8.33 feet

Octagonal Lantern
Height = 15.15 feet

This story continued from Divine Messengers