Buddha

Buddha — Siddhartha Gautama, the historical founder of Buddhism — is considered the ninth avatar of Vishnu in the standard Dashavatara list. According to Vaishnava tradition, Vishnu incarnated as Buddha to teach the path of non-violence (ahimsa) and to turn those whose hearts had grown hard towards animal sacrifice away from Vedic literalism. While Buddhism itself does not consider Buddha an avatar of Vishnu, his inclusion in the Dashavatara reflects the Hindu reverence for his teachings on compassion, mindfulness, and liberation from suffering. The Gaya temple complex contains shrines to both Buddha and Vishnu.

Peaceful seated figure in the padmasana (lotus) or dhyana mudra (meditation posture), hands folded on the lap or in the vitarka (teaching) mudra. Long earlobes, a ushnisha (cranial bump) on the head, curly hair, serene smile. Ochre robes leaving one shoulder bare. Often shown seated under the Bodhi tree.