Facts about laughing Buddha | Fusion - WeRIndia

Laughing Buddhas are considered to bring a lot of good luck. The laughing Buddha is based on an eccentric Chinese Ch’an (Zen) monk named Hotei who lived over 1,000 years ago. This monk became a significant part of Buddhist and Shinto culture.

There are various meanings behind the laughing Buddha. The statues of the stout, smiling or laughing bald man in robes with a largely exposed pot belly stomach symbolizes happiness, good luck, and plenitude.

There are many laughing Buddha figures with a begging bowl which represents his Buddhist nature. There are also some cases, where the Laughing Buddha may be found sitting on a cart drawn by boys or has a fan called an ‘Oogi’. They depict Hotei as a wandering monk who takes the sadness from people.

Rubbing the great belly of Laughing Buddha is said to bring wealth, good luck, and prosperity. The statue of the laughing Buddha is known to cheer people. It is considered auspicious to light a candle on his birthday (8th May). Many people ask him to grant any special requests they may have. Placing a laughing Buddha statue in your home is said to resolve family tensions, attract wealth, and luck.

The statue are also placed at work desks and offices. This is believed to prevent betrayals and arguments with colleagues.

The statue of laughing Buddha is considered sacred. It is highly revered in many cultures. The statue should not be placed in disrespectful places like kitchen, the bathroom, or on the floor. Furthermore, looking down on the statue is also considered disrespectful. The statue should be placed at least eye level.

It is believed that the statue should be placed directly facing the main door. Avoid placing the statue near electrical outlets or electronic devices. There are various types of Buddha statues and each of them depict something else.

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