Hayagriva Phurpa with Stand

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Name: Hayagriva Phurpa with Stand
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: XE37
Price: 360.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$414

Includes any tariffs and taxes

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Specifications

	XE37
	Copper and Wood
	Height: 13 inch
	Width: 2.2 inch
	Depth: 2.2 inch
	Weight 1.27 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 Sacred Blade: A Conduit of Power

The Phurpa, or ritual dagger, transcends its physical form to become a potent symbol within Tibetan Buddhism. It is not merely a weapon, but a spiritual tool employed to subdue negative forces, sever attachments, and transform obstacles into opportunities for enlightenment. The three-sided blade is said to represent the three poisons: ignorance, attachment, and aversion. By symbolically "stabbing" these poisons, the practitioner seeks to overcome their influence and attain liberation. The act of using the Phurpa is a process of profound inner transformation, a ritualistic enactment of spiritual mastery. This item is a beautiful representation of the symbolic phurpa.

The Wrathful Horse God

Hayagriva, a wrathful manifestation of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, lends his formidable power to this ritual implement. Hayagriva is instantly recognizable by the horse head protruding from his crown, a symbol of his swift and powerful compassion. Legend has it that the horse's neigh pierces through the darkness of ignorance, awakening beings to the path of enlightenment. As a deity, Hayagriva is invoked for protection, healing, and the dispelling of obstacles, particularly those hindering spiritual progress. The presence of Hayagriva imagery on the Phurpa amplifies its potency, invoking his protective and transformative energy.

Craftsmanship and Symbolism

This particular Phurpa is meticulously crafted, combining the strength of copper and the earthly grounding of wood. The copper catches and reflects light, emphasizing the details of the intricate carvings. Notice the details such as the faces carved onto the handle, their grimaces acting as a symbolic deterrent to negative forces, and protective dragons, coiled on the bottom portion of the blade. The dark wood stand provides a stable base for display, allowing you to showcase this sacred object in your home or meditation space. Its craftsmanship is a testament to devotion and reverence for the spiritual power it embodies. This is a piece to hold and honor.

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.