Manjushri

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Name: Manjushri
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: EN58
Price: 220.00 USD
Availability: InStock

RM984

Includes any tariffs and taxes

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Specifications

	EN58
	Copper Statue Gilded with 24 Karat Gold
	Height: 8.4 inch
	Width: 6 inch
	Depth: 3.2 inch
	Weight 1.70 kg

Delivery and Return Policies

	Returns and Exchanges accepted within 7 days
	Free Delivery

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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 Bodhisattva of Wisdom: An Introduction

Behold the embodiment of wisdom and awakened intellect: A meticulously crafted copper statue, resplendent with a generous layer of 24 karat gold gilding. This statue is a powerful representation, carefully sculpted with intricate details that highlight the deity’s profound significance within Tibetan Buddhism and other Buddhist traditions. The statue measures 8.4 x 6.0 x 3.2 inches. The deity embodies prajna, the wisdom that cuts through ignorance. This embodiment allows devotees to develop clear understanding, memory, and skillful means. His image invokes a profound connection to these qualities, serving as a constant reminder to cultivate wisdom and enlightenment.

Symbolism and Attributes

The deity is traditionally depicted holding aloft a flaming sword. This weapon is no ordinary blade; it is the Sword of Discriminating Awareness. Its fiery brilliance symbolizes the power to sever the bonds of ignorance, delusion, and negative emotions that obscure our true nature. By wielding this metaphorical sword, the deity helps practitioners distinguish between truth and falsehood, leading them towards clarity and insight. In his other hand, the deity holds a lotus flower, often supporting a text, such as the Prajnaparamita Sutra, which elaborates on the path to wisdom. The lotus itself is symbolic, representing purity and enlightenment emerging from muddy waters – the potential for awakening even amidst the difficulties and challenges of samsara (the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth). Often the deity is depicted as a youthful prince. This iconography underscores his role as a guiding force for aspiring bodhisattvas, encouraging them to develop youthful exuberance, clarity, and wisdom in their pursuit of enlightenment. The crown is adorned with jewels, symbolizing his advanced spiritual attainment and his role as a protector of the Dharma.

Craftsmanship and Devotional Art

Each element of this statue has been rendered with precision and reverence. The copper, chosen for its malleability and durability, provides a solid foundation, while the 24 karat gold gilding lends an ethereal glow and highlights the divine nature of the subject. This process requires a high degree of skill and artistry. The artisan's meticulous efforts, coupled with the innate beauty of the materials, result in a devotional object of exceptional quality. The serene and compassionate expression on the deity’s face embodies the inherent wisdom and loving-kindness that are at the heart of Buddhist philosophy. Displaying this statue in your home or meditation space is not merely an aesthetic choice, but an invocation of wisdom and a reminder of your own potential for enlightenment. Placing this statue within one's environment provides a constant source of inspiration and a focal point for meditation, reflection, and the cultivation of inner wisdom.

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.