Eleven Headed Thousand Armed Avalokiteshwara

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Name: Eleven Headed Thousand Armed Avalokiteshwara
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: ZO01
Price: 440.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$506

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Specifications

	ZO01
	Copper Sculpture gilded with 24 Karat Gold
	Height: 14 inch
	Width: 11 inch
	Depth: 3.5 inch
	Weight 3 kg

Delivery and Return Policies

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Fully Insured

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100% Handmade

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MADE IN INDIA.

Avalokiteshvara: The Bodhisattva of Compassion

Delve into the profound symbolism of Avalokiteshvara, the embodiment of compassion, with this meticulously crafted copper sculpture. This representation showcases the Bodhisattva in a powerful and awe-inspiring form, a testament to the limitless potential of awakened compassion. The sculpture is gilded with 24 Karat Gold.

The Eleven Heads

The arrangement of the eleven heads is not arbitrary; they signify Avalokiteshvara's all-seeing nature and his ability to perceive the suffering of all beings simultaneously. The heads also represent the different emotional states involved in the journey towards enlightenment. At the apex rests the head of Amitabha Buddha, his spiritual progenitor, a constant reminder of the ultimate goal of enlightenment.

The Thousand Arms

Encompassing the central figure is an array of arms, often depicted as a thousand, but symbolically representing countless hands actively reaching out to alleviate suffering in all realms. Each hand often holds a symbolic object, such as a lotus (purity), a vase (containing the nectar of wisdom), or prayer beads (representing continuous practice), each aiding sentient beings on their path to liberation.

Craftsmanship and Materials

Cast in copper, known for its durability and malleability, this sculpture is a testament to the skill of the artisans who have brought this complex vision to life. This piece, with its dimensions of 14.0 x 11.0 x 3.5 inches, will hold a prominent place. The gold gilding adds a layer of sacredness, reflecting light and drawing the eye to the intricate details of the sculpture. Placing this statue in your home or sacred space is said to bring blessings of peace, compassion, and 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.