Mahakala Vajra-Chopper Phurpa

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Name: Mahakala Vajra-Chopper Phurpa
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: XW12
Price: 45.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$52

Includes any tariffs and taxes

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Specifications

	XW12
	Copper and Brass
	Height: 6.3 inch
	Width: 3.8 inch
	Depth: 1.5 inch
	Weight 190 gm

Delivery and Return Policies


	Returns and Exchanges accepted within 7 days
	Free Delivery

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Fully Insured

All orders are fully insured
to ensure peace of mind.

100% Handmade

All products are
MADE IN INDIA.

A Symbol of Powerful Transformation and Protection

This exquisite, handcrafted artifact embodies profound spiritual significance and potent symbolism, drawing inspiration from the rich tapestry of Tibetan Buddhist iconography. Crafted from a harmonious blend of copper and brass, its intricate details reveal a masterful fusion of metallic artistry, designed to resonate with practitioners and collectors alike.

The Fierce Visage of Protection

At the apex of this striking piece sits a fierce, wrathful deity, its face contorted in an expression of unwavering determination. This formidable countenance, rendered in striking silver and gold tones, represents the enlightened wrath that transcends ordinary emotion, symbolizing the power to overcome obstacles, ignorance, and negative forces. The multiple small faces adorning its crown suggest the boundless compassion and wisdom that underpin this fierce protector, reminding us that even the most powerful force is rooted in benevolence. This imagery is deeply intertwined with the concept of Mahakala, a wrathful emanation of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, who acts as a fierce protector of the Dharma and a vanquisher of spiritual impediments.

The Dance of Duality and Subjugation

The artifact’s form is a potent testament to the principle of duality. Emerging from the deity’s sides are two powerful instruments: the Vajra, a symbol of indestructibility, spiritual power, and the enlightened mind, and the Kartri, or chopper, a blade signifying the severing of delusion, attachment, and all forms of spiritual bondage. The Vajra, with its four prongs, represents the four immeasurable qualities of love, compassion, joy, and equanimity, while also symbolizing the subjugation of the four maras or obstacles on the path to enlightenment. The Kartri, sharp and decisive, is wielded to cut through the illusions that keep beings trapped in suffering, much like the mythical hero Gilgamesh is said to have slain the monstrous Humbaba with his blade.

The Cycle of Life, Death, and Rebirth

Further down, a stark skull motif encircles the central shaft, a poignant reminder of impermanence and the cyclical nature of existence. This is not a morbid symbol but one that encourages detachment from worldly concerns and a focus on spiritual liberation. In many Buddhist traditions, the skull is used as a meditation aid, prompting practitioners to contemplate the inevitability of death and the preciousness of life, thereby inspiring them to cultivate wisdom and compassion. The transition from the fierce deity and its powerful implements to the skull below illustrates the journey from confronting external and internal obstacles to accepting the fundamental truth of impermanence, a crucial step in spiritual growth.

The Sacred Point of Manifestation

The lower portion culminates in a sharp, pointed phurba, or ritual dagger. This element is central to the artifact’s function as a tool for exorcism and protection. The phurba is believed to possess the power to pin down and subdue negative energies, demons, and harmful forces, both in the external world and within the practitioner's own mindstream. It is a symbol of action, a decisive instrument used to destroy ignorance and establish spiritual order. This dagger's shape is reminiscent of the mythological trident of Shiva, symbolizing not only destruction but also regeneration and transformation, reflecting the phurba's role in clearing the ground for positive growth. This entire assemblage, from the wrathful visage to the piercing point, represents a complete cycle of confronting negativity, severing delusion, and establishing a purified space for spiritual practice and realization.

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.