With a serene countenance and eyes alight with cosmic understanding, Lord Buddha
is sitting as a conqueror of illusions, dispelling the shadows of ignorance
that veil the path to enlightenment. With graceful poise, the hands form an
exquisite gesture, signifying the victorious defeat of Mara, the embodiment of
desire and illusion. His visage tells a tale of inner strength and unwavering
resolve, inspiring all who behold him to seek liberation from the cycle of
suffering. It represents the moment when Lord Buddha conquered the forces that
sought to distract him from his path of awakening. Made from premium copper,
the statue gleams with a radiant aura, adding a touch of elegance to any space.
On your path to awakening, immerse yourself in the transforming energy of this
statue to find inner strength, clarity, and liberty.
Victory Over Illusion
This exquisite copper statue captures a pivotal moment in the spiritual journey of the Buddha, depicted in the powerful Mara Vijay Mudra. This pose symbolizes the Buddha's ultimate victory over Mara, the demon who represented temptation, illusion, and the obstacles to enlightenment. As Siddhartha Gautama sat in meditation beneath the Bodhi tree, Mara assailed him with his daughters and his armies, seeking to disrupt his path to awakening. The Buddha, unfazed, touched the earth with his right hand, calling upon the Earth Goddess to bear witness to his merit and his right to achieve enlightenment. This statue, with the Buddha's right hand resting gracefully on his knee, often with the palm facing downwards, or in this depiction, holding a symbolic element, embodies that profound moment of inner strength and unwavering determination.
Artistry and Symbolism in Copper
Crafted from rich copper, this sculpture from Nepal is a testament to the skill of traditional artisans. The molten metal has been meticulously shaped to bring forth the serene yet resolute expression of the Buddha. The intricate detailing on his monastic robes, adorned with delicate patterns, hints at the opulence of the worldly realm that the Buddha transcended. The contrasting silver-toned accents on the garment's trim and the decorative elements on the lotus pedestal add depth and visual appeal, elevating the statue beyond a mere representation to a work of devotional art. The lotus itself is a potent symbol in Buddhism, signifying purity, spiritual awakening, and detachment from the worldly mire, blossoming even in muddy waters.
A Guardian of Serenity
More than just a decorative piece, this statue serves as a tangible reminder of the path to inner peace and wisdom. The Mara Vijay Mudra is a powerful icon for anyone facing personal challenges or internal struggles. It invokes the courage to confront and overcome the illusions and distractions that can hinder spiritual growth. The presence of this statue in your home or meditation space can act as a constant source of inspiration, encouraging perseverance and the cultivation of a calm, focused mind. Nepal, with its deep-rooted Buddhist traditions, provides a fitting origin for such a sacred artifact, imbrued with centuries of spiritual practice and artistic heritage. This copper masterpiece is an invitation to reflect on your own journey towards overcoming obstacles and finding your own enlightenment.
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.
