Maha Kaal (Tibetan Diety)

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Name: Maha Kaal (Tibetan Diety)
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: ZH92
Price: 360.00 USD
Availability: InStock

AED1334

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Specifications

	ZH92
	Gilted Copper with 24 Karat Gold
	Height: 1.3 ft
	Width: 0.9 ft
	Depth: 0.3 ft
	Weight 5.30 kg

Delivery and Return Policies

	Returns and Exchanges accepted within 7 days
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Fully Insured

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100% Handmade

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MADE IN INDIA.

A Glimpse of the Destroyer: Welcoming the Protector

Invite a potent presence into your sacred space with this meticulously crafted statue, a representation of a powerful figure revered across Tibetan Buddhism as both a destroyer of negativity and a fierce protector of Dharma practitioners. This exquisite piece, ideally suited for altars, meditation spaces, or as a striking centerpiece, embodies both the wrathful and compassionate nature found within Tantric Buddhist traditions. The statue depicts a dynamic stance, indicative of the ceaseless activity and unwavering vigilance against obstacles that impede the path to enlightenment. The intricate details, painstakingly brought to life, capture the deity's imposing form and convey the intensity of their protective energy. This image is more than just a representation; it's a conduit to connect with the qualities of fierce compassion and wisdom that this deity embodies.

The Mythological Context

While forms of this deity exist across different cultures and traditions, the version presented here is deeply rooted in Tibetan Buddhist practice. He embodies the dynamic energy required to overcome inner and outer obstacles, destroying delusion, ignorance, and harmful emotions. The deity is not seen as inherently malevolent, but rather as a force for transformation, ruthlessly cutting through attachments and illusions that bind sentient beings to suffering. He is a guardian who promises safety during moments of vulnerability. In some traditions, he is considered a manifestation of Avalokiteśvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, taking on a wrathful form to more effectively aid beings in overcoming adversity. This illustrates the fundamental Buddhist principle that compassion can take many forms, even those that appear fearsome, to liberate beings from suffering. The flaming aura is a reminder of the transformative fire that burns away impurities and obscurations on the spiritual path.

The Art of Creation

This statue has been cast in copper, an alloy known for its durability and resonance. It has been coated with a gilding, using 24 Karat gold, giving it a vibrant, lasting luster. The use of gold is not merely decorative; it symbolizes purity, radiance, and the preciousness of enlightenment. The craftsmanship is evident in the precision of the details, from the expression on the face to the intricate adornments. This piece serves not only as a powerful symbol, but also as a testament to the skill and devotion of the artisans who created it.

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.