The mystical view of the sculpture of Lord Buddha carved by the Khampti tribe of Arunachal Pradesh, so very beautifully wondrous indeed, speaks of the artistic and spiritual legacy of the tribe. Here, Lord Buddha is shown in the bhumi-sparsha mudra in which the Buddha touches the earth to invite the Earth Goddess to witness his enlightenment. The very iconography is foremost among the range of Buddhist symbols, indicating emancipation over Mara and hence being earth-bound or rather nature-bound.
The Khampti tribe has a very strong Buddhist heritage, and this is reflected in the sculpture capturing, in essence, the moment wherein they have invented a beautiful shape. The Buddha sits, and an interesting appendage of this sculpture is the cloud collar and a crown that seems to draw upon the local tradition as an embellishment distinguishing it from other Buddhist sculptures. To the Khampti, the collar signifies, such from the Khampti perspective, that the Buddha is really a teacher as well as a divine figure who bridges this earth with the heavens. The Khampti tribe, largely influenced by Buddhism, regards its various sculptures as points for practice and invigorating meditation. These are to be placed in the shelter of temples or puja rooms within homes, meant to receive the energies of peace and wisdom and thus integrate well in the daily spiritual life of the Khampti. Wooden sculpture of Lord Buddha shows an exalted level of richness and the aesthetics which the Khampti tribe holds in its rich Buddhist tradition.