A reclining Buddha is an image that represents
Buddha lying down and is a major iconographic theme in
Buddhist art. It represents the
historical Buddha during his last illness, about to enter the
parinirvana.[1] He is lying on his right side, his head resting on a cushion or relying on his right elbow, supporting his head with his hand.
This pattern seems to have emerged at the same time as other representations of the Buddha in the
Greco-Buddhist art of
Gandhara.
In Thai art
For Thai Buddha attitudes (
Thai: ปางพระพุทธรูป; parang Phra phut ta roupe), the reclining Buddha (
Thai: ปางไสยาสน์; paang sai yat) can refer to three different episodes, whilst the attribute of each remains unclear.
Nirvana attitude (
Thai: ปางปรินิพพาน; paang pari nipphan)
Teaching the Rahu Asurin attitude (
Thai: ปางโปรดอสุรินทราหู; paang proad asurin tra rahu)
Sleeping attitude (
Thai: ปางทรงพระสุบิน; paang song phra subin)
Wat Phra Si Iriyabot in
Kamphaeng Phet The 15th century temple with Buddha statues in four postures-walking, sitting, standing and reclining in the
Sukhothai artistic style
Wat Wichian Bamrung in
Phetchabun - 50 metres (160 ft)