Chenrezig

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Name: Chenrezig
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: ZN27
Price: 260.00 USD
Availability: InStock

AED963

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Specifications

	ZN27
	Copper Sculpture gilded with 24 Karat Gold
	Height: 8.2 inch
	Width: 6 inch
	Depth: 3.5 inch
	Weight 1.50 kg

Delivery and Return Policies

	Returns and Exchanges accepted within 7 days
	Free Delivery

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Fully Insured

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100% Handmade

All products are
MADE IN INDIA.

An Embodiment of Compassion

Within the realm of Vajrayana Buddhism, few figures hold as prominent a place as Avalokiteśvara, revered as the Bodhisattva of Compassion. This beautifully crafted sculpture represents Chenrezig, the Tibetan name for Avalokiteśvara, a celestial being who embodies the boundless compassion of all Buddhas. More than a mere representation, this statue serves as a tangible link to the immense power of empathy and loving-kindness that Chenrezig embodies. This manifestation of Chenrezig is a powerful symbol for the home or meditation space.

The Legend of Avalokiteśvara

Avalokiteśvara's origins are steeped in rich mythological lore. The name, literally meaning "the Lord who looks down," hints at the Bodhisattva's unwavering commitment to observing the suffering of the world and actively working to alleviate it. According to legend, Avalokiteśvara, after attaining enlightenment, heard the cries of sentient beings trapped in the cycle of suffering (samsara). Overwhelmed with compassion, Avalokiteśvara vowed never to rest until all beings were liberated from this cycle. Despite tireless efforts, the suffering continued, and out of sheer anguish, Avalokiteśvara’s head split into eleven pieces, and his arms shattered. Amitabha Buddha, witnessing this profound display of compassion, transformed the broken pieces into eleven heads to better hear the cries of the suffering, and a thousand arms to better extend help. The thousand arms, each with an eye in the palm, symbolize the ability to see and respond to suffering in all directions simultaneously. Each aspect of the deity embodies the commitment to reduce the suffering of others.

Craftsmanship and Detail

This particular sculpture captures the essence of Chenrezig's enlightened form with exquisite detail. It's a testament to the skill and artistry of the craftsmen who meticulously shaped the copper core and meticulously applied the gilding of 24 Karat gold. The figure sits in a meditative posture, a pose of inner peace and contemplation, yet the multiple arms convey a sense of active compassion and readiness to assist all beings. The proportions are carefully considered, reflecting traditional iconographic principles. The regal crown, adorned with intricate details, signifies Chenrezig's status as a Bodhisattva, a being on the path to enlightenment. The delicate hand gestures, or mudras, each carry a specific meaning related to teaching, protection, and the granting of blessings. In the upper left hand, Chenrezig holds a lotus flower, which symbolizes purity.

A Treasure for Your Spiritual Practice

This statue serves as more than an aesthetic addition to your home. It is designed as a sacred object intended to be used for contemplation. Meditating on the image of Chenrezig, visualizing the Bodhisattva's attributes, and reciting the mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum," is a common practice for cultivating compassion, wisdom, and inner peace. This mantra is believed to purify negativity, transform suffering, and ultimately lead to enlightenment. Placing this statue in your home or meditation space creates a powerful focal point for your spiritual practice, inspiring you to embody the qualities of compassion and loving-kindness in your daily life. Given its dimensions of 8.2 x 6.0 x 3.5 inches, this statue can be displayed on a shrine or bookshelf as a reminder of one's commitment to spiritual progress.

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.