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19" Black Mahakala From Nepal

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Name: 19" Black Mahakala From Nepal
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: NLH060
Price: 2420.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$2268.75

$3025

25% off

Includes any tariffs and taxes

This item can be backordered

Time required to recreate this artwork

8 weeks to 12 weeks

Advance to be paid now

$453.75 (20%)

Balance to be paid once product is ready

$1815

Notify me when this item is available

Specifications

	NLH060
	Copper With Gold
	Height: 19 inch
	Width: 13.5 inch
	Depth: 7.5 inch
	Weight 12.70 kg

Delivery and Return Policies


	Returns and Exchanges accepted within 7 days
	Free Delivery

Easy Returns

Return within 7 days of
order delivery.See T&Cs

Fully Insured

All orders are fully insured
to ensure peace of mind.

100% Handmade

All products are
MADE IN INDIA.

The Ferocious Protector: Mahakala in Nepalese Art

This striking sculpture depicts Mahakala, a wrathful manifestation of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. In Buddhist traditions, Mahakala is a powerful protector of the Dharma, fiercely guarding against obstacles to enlightenment and vanquishing negative forces. His terrifying visage, though outwardly fearsome, is a testament to his profound love and dedication to liberating all beings from suffering. This particular rendition, crafted in Nepal, showcases the exquisite artistry and deep spiritual significance embedded in Himalayan Buddhist iconography.

Symbolism and Iconography

Mahakala is often depicted with multiple faces and arms, symbolizing his omnipresence and his ability to overcome hindrances from all directions. The numerous arms represent his skillful means in engaging with and transforming various forms of adversity. His dark or black complexion signifies his transcendence of all dualities and his embodiment of ultimate reality, beyond the grasp of conceptual thought. The fierce expression, bared fangs, and bulging eyes are not meant to instill fear, but to represent his unwavering commitment to eradicating ignorance, greed, and hatred – the roots of suffering. The flames emanating from his back symbolize the fires of wisdom that consume all delusions and purify the mind. He is often shown trampling on obstacles, such as deities, demons, or even a human figure, representing the subjugation of ego and negative emotions. The skull garland he wears is a potent reminder of impermanence and the cycle of rebirth, urging practitioners towards liberation.

A Masterpiece of Craftsmanship

This magnificent sculpture is meticulously crafted from copper, richly embellished with gold. The intricate details, from the powerful musculature and fierce facial features to the flowing robes and ornate jewelry, speak volumes about the skill of Nepalese artisans. The contrast between the dark copper and the gleaming gold highlights the divine power and formidable presence of Mahakala. The dynamic composition, with the surrounding array of flames and symbolic implements, creates a sense of potent energy and spiritual dynamism. Each element is rendered with precision, capturing the essence of this important deity.

Cultural Significance and Devotion

Mahakala holds a central place in Tibetan and Nepalese Buddhism, particularly in the tantric traditions. He is invoked for protection, for overcoming obstacles in spiritual practice, and for the well-being of the community. He is often seen as the guardian of monasteries and sacred teachings. His fierce aspect is understood not as aggression, but as a powerful antidote to the subtler forms of spiritual obstruction. The presence of a Mahakala statue in a sacred space or as a personal shrine is believed to create a powerful protective field, warding off negative influences and fostering an environment conducive to spiritual growth and realization. This sculpture serves as a tangible link to this profound spiritual lineage and a powerful focal point for devotion and contemplation.

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.