This shrine with a colossal statue of Buddha forms the part of a large monastic complex.
The statue, 3.05 m. in height is carved out of blue stone of the Gaya region and represents Buddha under Bodhi tree in the Bhumisparsha Mudra (earth-touching attitude). The inscription on the pedestal of the image datable to 10-11th century A.D. records the construction of the shrine by a local Kalachuri chief.
The excavations, conducted in 1876 A.D. by Carlleyle and later by archaeologists revealed the original shrine on the west with the Buddha statue surrounded by an ambulatory path and a monastery attached to the east consisting of an open courtyard with rows of rooms on north, south and east. The existing temple housing the Buddha image was built in 1927 A.D.
The entire complex once formed part of a large group of subsidiary monuments surrounding the main stupa and Nirvana temple.
After eating the last meal offered by the smith Cunda, the Buddha became sick. According to the commentary, although the distance from Pava to Kushinagar was 3 gavutas or about 10 km, it took great effort and the Buddha had to stop at 25 places to rest. Thus comes sickness to a man, crushing all his health. As he wanted to point out this fact, the Buddha spoke these words which aroused religious urgency (samvega): “I am wearied and would rest awhile.” At the last place of rest, 400 metres before reaching the Upavanatta Sala grove, the Buddha had to ask Ananda three times before the latter would go to the nearby stream to fetch him some water to drink. The reason why Ananda did not go at first was because many carts had crossed the stream, making the water muddy and dirty. After the third request, Ananda went to the stream and found that its water had turned clear and potable.
This place is called Matha Kuwara and a shrine has been erected and installed with a colossal Buddha image in earth-touching-posture (bhumi-phassa-mudra). The 3.05 m tall statue is carved out of one block of blue stone and is about 1,000 years old. The name ‘Matha Kuwara’ literally means ‘forehead prostration’, which is what devotees do when they visit this shrine.
The last sermon by Lord Buddha was given here.
The bhumisparsa-mudra i.e.'earth-touching attitude' symbolically expresses the supreme moment in Buddha's life just before his Enlightenment, when he called upon the Earth to bear witness to the pieties performed by him in his previous births.
