Laughing Buddha - Big made from brass is attractive, last long antic finish And unique statue.
The Laughing Buddha (also known as Hotei in Japan or Pu-Tai in China) is thought to be based on an actual wandering Chinese monk who lived at the time of the Liang Dynasty (907-923 AD).
He is usually shown smiling or laughing, hence his nickname the Laughing Buddha. He is also called as the "Happy Man"
His large protruding stomach and jolly smile have given him a common designation Laughing Buddha.
Laughing Buddha can be seen gracing various amulets, temples and restaurants and many shops and homes even Hospitals
His figure appears throughout Chinese culture as a representation of contentment
Some Buddhist traditions consider him a Buddha or a bodhisattva, often identifying him with Maitreya (the future Buddha)
1- Fat Laughing Buddha statues have been believed to bring good fortune to the homes and businesses of those that display them.
2- The Laughing Buddha is not the same as Siddhartha Gautama. an Indian prince who became the founder of Buddhism in 520 B.C.E.
3- Laughing Buddha the character is thought to be based on an historical Chinese Buddhist monk who lived more than 1,000 years ago.
4- The celestial Buddha named Hotei or Pu-Tai is best known as the jolly Laughing Buddha.
5- According to a legend, if one rubs the belly of Laughing Buddha, it brings forth wealth, good luck, and prosperity.
Design: Made in heavy shining brass.
Brass is well known for its grasping capacity. It grasps the divine spirit upto 30%, when compared to other metals. The spiritual vibrations are attracted towards these shining idols easily.
Dimensions: 3.5 inches (H) x 2 inches (W) x 2 inches (thickness)
Weight: 360 gms
Importance of Idol worship: Idols are not the idle fancies of sculptors, but shining channels through which the heart of the devotee is attracted to and flows towards God. Though the image is worshipped, the devotee feels the presence of the Lord in it and pours out his devotion unto it. Regular worship, Puja and other modes of demonstrating our inner feeling of recognition of Divinity in the idol unveils the Divinity latent in it. This is truly a wonder and a miracle. The picture comes to life. The idol speaks. It will answer your questions and solve your problems. The God in you has the power to awaken the latent Divinity in the idol. The lives of Mirabai, Sant Tukaram, Shri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Shri Yogananda are a few instances to prove the point. They proved beyond doubt that idol worship has its own brighter side and through simple faith and intense devotion one can realize God through it.
Idols are the "finite representation of the Infinite". As per Vishnu Samhita (ch 29, v 55-7), persuasively endorses the use of imagery (idols) and puts it: "Without a form how can God be mediated upon? If (He is) without any form, where will the mind fix itself? When there is nothing for the mind to attach itself to, it will slip away from meditation or will glide into a state of slumber. Therefore the wise will meditate on some form, remembering, however, that the form is a superimposition and not a reality."