13" Buddhist Deity Mahakala Copper Statue from Nepal

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Name: 13" Buddhist Deity Mahakala Copper Statue from Nepal
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: CAA184
Price: 1035.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$1190

Includes any tariffs and taxes

Only 1 available

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Specifications

	CAA184
	Copper With Gold
	Height: 13 inch
	Width: 9.5 inch
	Depth: 5 inch
	Weight 4.40 kg

About the Item

Depicts Mahakala, a wrathful protector deity central to Tibetan Buddhism, embodying awakened fury.
Symbolizes the power to overcome obstacles, dispel ignorance, and vanquish negative forces hindering spiritual progress.
Features a fearsome visage with a third eye and bared fangs, representing omniscient awareness and determination.
Crafted from copper with rich patina, capturing the essence of his powerful energy and divine protection.
Often shown trampling demons, signifying ultimate victory over negativity obstructing enlightenment.
Ideal for meditation spaces, Buddhist altars, or as a powerful home decor statement piece.

Delivery and Return Policies

	Usually ships in 6 days
	Returns and Exchanges accepted within 7 days
	Free Delivery

Easy Returns

Return within 7 days of
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Fully Insured

All orders are fully insured
to ensure peace of mind.

100% Handmade

All products are
MADE IN INDIA.

The name "Mahakala" originates from the Sanskrit words "Maha," signifying greatness, and "kala," representing both blackness and time. Hence, Mahakala translates as the "Great Black One." His primary hands grasp a spear horizontally, while the second pair holds spears with emaciated male corpses impaled upon them.

The third set of hands holds a skin, likely that of a headless elephant. Remarkably similar to the Mahakala depiction within the thousand-handed Avalokitesvara mandala, the illustration diverges primarily in the number of faces. This symbolism underscores Mahakala's multidimensional attributes, embodying time, power, and transformation in the realm of Buddhism.

Embodiment of Awakened Fury: The Mahakala Statue

This striking copper and gold statue, meticulously crafted in Nepal, depicts Mahakala, a fierce protector deity central to Tibetan Buddhism. Mahakala, meaning "Great Black One," is not a figure of malevolence but rather a manifestation of awakened wrath, embodying the power to overcome obstacles, dispel ignorance, and vanquish negative forces that hinder spiritual progress. His fearsome visage and dynamic posture are symbolic, designed to inspire awe and devotion, and to confront the delusions that bind sentient beings. In Buddhist iconography, Mahakala is often depicted with multiple faces, arms, and a wrathful expression, complete with a third eye and bared fangs. These features represent his omniscient awareness, his ability to engage with all forms of suffering, and his unwavering determination to protect the Dharma. He is frequently shown trampling underfoot various demons or hindrances, signifying his ultimate victory over the negativity that obstructs enlightenment. The swirling flames that often surround him symbolize the purification of the mind and the fiery wisdom that burns away all impurities. This particular representation, with its rich copper and gold patina, captures the essence of his powerful energy and divine protection. ––––––––––

A Patron of the Vajrayana Path

Mahakala is a principal protector in the Vajrayana tradition of Buddhism. He is invoked to safeguard spiritual practitioners, their teachers, and the sacred teachings from internal and external impediments. The presence of Mahakala is believed to create a potent spiritual shield, clearing the path for meditation, devotion, and the attainment of enlightenment. His formidable appearance is a skillful means to shock the practitioner out of complacency and to confront the ego's attachments and aversions. He is the fierce guardian who ensures that the precious Jewel of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha remains protected. The artisans of Nepal, with their deep-rooted artistic traditions and profound spiritual understanding, have brought this powerful deity to life. The intricate detailing in the copper and gold, from the fiery halo to the robust musculature and the symbolic adornments, speaks to a heritage of sacred artistry passed down through generations. This statue is more than just an object of beauty; it is a conduit for devotion, a reminder of the protective forces at work in the spiritual journey, and a testament to the enduring power of Mahakala in the pantheon of Buddhist protectors. Its presence can transform a space into a sanctuary of spiritual fortitude and auspicious protection.

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.