Mahakala Phurpa

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

Name: Mahakala Phurpa
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: ZAG49
Price: 945.00 USD
Availability: InStock

NZ$1640

Includes any tariffs and taxes

Notify me when this item is available

Specifications

	ZAG49
	Copper and Wood
	Height: 19 inch
	Width: 6 inch
	Depth: 6 inch
	Weight 3.16 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.

Wrathful Protector

Behold a powerful representation of Buddhist iconography, a sculpture embodying both fierce protection and profound compassion. Crafted from a combination of copper and wood, this imposing piece depicts a deity revered for their ability to overcome obstacles and negativity on the path to enlightenment. Its presence is a statement, a tangible link to ancient traditions and the unwavering pursuit of spiritual liberation. The intricate detailing invites close inspection. The copper accents highlight the deity's features, from the intense gaze to the symbolic ornaments that adorn their form. The wooden components add a warm, earthy quality to the sculpture, grounding its powerful energy. The combination of these materials creates a striking visual contrast, reflecting the complex nature of the deity it represents.

Symbolism in Form

At the heart of this piece lies a potent symbol: the phurpa. This ritual dagger, deeply rooted in Tibetan Buddhist traditions, represents the forceful cutting away of ignorance, attachment, and other obstacles that hinder spiritual progress. The phurpa's blade symbolizes penetrating wisdom, capable of piercing through delusion and illusion. The deity depicted atop the phurpa is a manifestation of wrathful compassion. This may seem like a paradox, but it embodies the understanding that sometimes, fierce methods are necessary to protect beings from harm and guide them towards awakening. The deity's formidable appearance, with its fierce expression and symbolic adornments, serves as a powerful reminder of the strength required to confront and overcome inner demons and external obstacles. Consider the deity's multiple faces, each representing a different aspect of enlightened wisdom and compassion. These faces symbolize the multifaceted nature of reality and the deity's ability to perceive and respond to the needs of all beings. The crown adorned with skulls is a reminder of impermanence, urging us to cherish each moment and dedicate ourselves to the path of liberation. Holding such a powerful image can serve as constant encouragement to destroy inner obstacles and help others do the same.

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.