The largest Buddha in antiquity was perhaps in Afghanistan, at Bamiyan. It was destroyed by Taliban vandals. Other enormous statues of the Buddha, possibly larger and in the supine position, were also discovered in Afghanistan. Ancient artisans of the area (Central Asia), where Siddhartha may have grown up far from Nepal, often portray the Buddha-to-come, Maitreya, rather than the historical Buddha Gautama welcoming him with great monuments. Maitreya is a favorite of Vajrayana and Mahayana Buddhism. The new Bhutanese Buddha in the capital of Thimphu rivals the great rock-hewn statue at Leshan, Sichuan, China and other enormous statuary.
This is a tiny glimpse of what is purported to be the world's largest Buddha, high above Thimphu Valley, Bhutan -- which until recently was the last Himalayan Buddhist kingdom (before the king unilaterally converted to democracy), from the author of Radio Shangri-La: What I Learned in Bhutan, the Happiest Kingdom on Earth.
by Lisa Napoli
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