Gautam Buddha or Siddhartha Gautama, is the founder of Buddhism and is actually regarded as the divine by both Jains and Buddhists. Prince Siddhartha, son of Maharaja Suddhodhan, grew amidst much opulence and grandeur, but was forever restless in soul. He seemed to be on a constant quest for something. He had led a very protected life in the confines of the palace, but one day, he happened to be witness to human suffering, like old age, sickness and death. This was the turning point in Siddhartha’s life. He decided to leave his surroundings, relatives and immense wealth behind and left on a journey of enlightenment.

Sitting under a Bodhi tree, he became an enlightened soul, shedding the limitations of the human body, becoming one with the Cosmic Force. Gautama Buddha, the Wise One, is also sometimes regarded as an incarnation or avatar of Mahavishnu, one of the Divine Trinity.

This hand-painting you see here has been done on velvet cloth and depicts Buddha, shining with a divine aura, in a serene, contemplative mood.