Tibetan Buddhist Kubera - God of Money with Mongoose Spitting Jewels

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Name: Tibetan Buddhist Kubera - God of Money with Mongoose Spitting Jewels
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: XD74
Price: 660.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$618.75

$825

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Specifications

	XD74
	Copper Sculpture Gilded with 24 Karat Gold
	Height: 13 inch
	Width: 6 inch
	Depth: 9 inch
	Weight 4.30 kg

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100% Handmade

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MADE IN INDIA.

Embodiment of Wealth and Prosperity

This magnificent copper sculpture, meticulously gilded with 24 karat gold, depicts Kubera, the revered King of the Yakshas and the divine treasurer of the gods in Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Kubera is widely invoked as the deity of wealth, fortune, and abundance, symbolizing material prosperity and the blessings of riches. In his iconography, he is often shown seated majestically, radiating an aura of power and benevolence. This particular representation captures the essence of his role as a giver of wealth, a figure of immense spiritual significance for those seeking financial well-being and universal prosperity.

The Iconography of Abundance

The artistry of this statue is truly remarkable. Kubera is adorned with a resplendent golden crown, intricately detailed and studded with vibrant blue and red gemstones, signifying his royal status and divine glory. His expression is serene yet powerful, with watchful eyes that convey his omniscience. He is draped in opulent attire, highlighted by exquisite golden jewelry, necklaces, and armbands, all rendered with exceptional detail. The rich brown of his lower garments provides a grounding contrast to the dazzling gold. The statue's posture is seated in a comfortable yet regal pose, with one hand gracefully resting in his lap, while the other extends outwards, perhaps in the act of bestowing blessings. At his feet, a mythical mongoose is depicted, spitting forth a cascade of jewels. This potent symbol represents the endless flow of wealth and the vanquishing of poverty, a testament to Kubera's power to unlock fortunes and dispel financial hardship.

Cultural and Mythological Significance

Kubera's presence transcends mere material wealth; he is also associated with spiritual riches and the fulfillment of desires. In ancient Indian mythology, Kubera is the son of Vishrava and a princess named Idavida, and he earned his divine status through rigorous asceticism. He rules over the mythical kingdom of Alaka in the Himalayas, a realm of unparalleled splendor. His association with the mongoose is a significant element; legend has it that the mongoose is a creature that can burrow deep into the earth and unearth hidden treasures, and that Kubera blessed it to bring forth these riches, thus becoming synonymous with abundant wealth. Invoking Kubera is believed to attract good fortune, success in business, and the accumulation of material possessions, while also fostering a sense of generosity and the wise stewardship of resources. This sculpture serves as a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of material and spiritual well-being, inviting blessings of prosperity into any space it graces.

How are Nepalese copper statues made?

Nepalese statues and sculptures are best known for their unique small religious figures and ritual paraphernalia for over two thousand years. These are mainly cast in copper alloy. Nepal draws influences from the artistic styles of Buddhism and Hinduism, and therefore the sculptors of the country specialize in making the icons of both these religions. Over the years, Nepalese sculptures evolved into their own distinctive iconography. Some characteristic features of these sculptures that differ from other pieces are exaggerated physical postures, youthful and sensual features, languid eyes, wider faces having serene expressions, and ornate flourishes. The Buddhist deity icons of Nepal have tremendous demand in countries such as China and Tibet for ritual purposes in their temples and monasteries.

Nepalese statues and sculptures have a high copper content and therefore develop a slightly reddish patina on the surface as they age. However, the most unique feature of Nepalese copper statues is their decorative detailing. The pieces are heavily gilded and sometimes inlaid with semi-precious stones. This embellishment protects them from getting tarnished. The traditional lost-wax method for casting Nepalese copper statues remains the most practiced technique in Nepal for many centuries. This process involves many steps and requires skilled artists.

The first step in lost-wax sculpting is to make a wax replica of the desired Buddhist deity to be cast in copper. This replica is created by hand and therefore needs excellent artistic skills otherwise fine features will be lacking.

Once the wax replica is made, it is then coated with a special mixture of clay with a brush. This layer of clay is hardened when left to dry. A small hole is made on the base of the wax mould so that the wax flows away when it is heated.

At this stage, a hollow mould in the shape of the deity is obtained.

This is the time to pour liquid copper into the hollow mould which is then allowed to cool and harden inside a container of cold water. When the liquid metal has hardened, the mould is removed and the statue within is revealed.

The artist works on the details of the statue using various tools. It is then polished to get a shiny and lustrous surface.

Now comes the most important part of Nepalese art which is gold gilding. This is done by the traditional fire gilding method. A mixture of mercury and 18K gold is applied on the surface of the statue and heat is applied using a flame torch. The result is that mercury evaporates along with impurities, leaving a pure 24K gold finish.

The lost-wax method of sculpting is the most preferred technique

for artists to cast a metallic statue having intricate details. Since Nepalese copper sculptures require extraneous effort for giving a majestic look by adding special embellishments, it takes several weeks to complete one masterpiece. A 24K gold gilded copper sculpture retains its brilliant luster for many years and appears as like before. Nepalese sculptures continue to remain one of the finest specimens of the art of the East that have a strong aesthetic appeal that other sculptures cannot match.