MT03. Thoranee, Earth Goddess metal sculptures. Available in various
poses and finishes.
According to legend, while Siddhartha sat meditating under the bodhi tree,
resolved to become enlightened, Mara the Tempter unleashed his fearsome
armies. But Siddhartha continued to meditate unafraid. Then Mara demanded
witnesses to the virtues of Siddhartha.
Siddhartha touched the fingers of his right hand to the earth and said, "the
very Earth is my witness." Instantly, Thoranee, the Earth Goddess rose up and
said that, yes, she was witness to every single act of merit that this monk had
committed, over countless incarnations. Then she wrung out her long hair.
The accumulated merit from Siddhartha's virtues had been stored in her hair
as lustral water. When Thoranee wrung out her hair, it created such a huge
flood that Mara's armies were washed away.
Past merit being stored in the Earth Goddess's hair is
a beautiful bit of symbolism that derives from an ancient Indian custom. A
similar custom is still practised by Buddhists in South and Southeast Asia.
When an act of kindness, such as feeding the poor, has been performed in a
formal setting, the donors pour water from one container to another. This
symbolizes pouring water upon the earth and dedicating the merit of the kind
act to all beings. According to the myth, such pouring from Siddhartha's
numerous kind acts had been stored in the earth goddess' hair. Without this
accumulated merit, he would have been unable to defeat Mara's demon
armies and reach his goal of enlightenment.
As the story concludes, Siddhartha continues to meditate and reaches the
moment of Nirvana and total realization as Buddha, the Enlightened One.
