Six Armed Mahakala Gau Box (Portable Shrine)

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Return within 7 days of
order delivery.See T&Cs

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100% Handmade

All products are
MADE IN INDIA.

Six Armed Mahakala Gau Box (Portable Shrine)

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Name: Six Armed Mahakala Gau Box (Portable Shrine)
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: ET77
Price: 660.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$618.75

$825

25% off

Includes any tariffs and taxes

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Specifications

	ET77
	Sterling Silver with Copper Backing
	Height: 4 inch
	Width: 3 inch
	Depth: 1.2 inch
	Weight 150 gm

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.

Journey with Protection: The Portable Shrine Embark on a spiritual journey, shielded by the formidable presence of a powerful protector. This exquisitely crafted Gau box serves as a personal sanctuary, allowing you to carry the blessings and protection of a revered deity wherever you go. Designed for portability and adorned with intricate detail, this piece is more than just an object of devotion; it is a tangible link to ancient wisdom and unwavering strength.

Mahakala: The Great Black One

At the heart of this Gau box lies the image of Mahakala, often translated as the "Great Black One," a wrathful manifestation of compassion in Tibetan Buddhism. Far from being a symbol of malice, Mahakala embodies the fierce determination to eradicate obstacles on the path to enlightenment. His dark complexion represents the absorption of all colors, signifying his all-encompassing nature. He is often depicted with multiple arms, each wielding symbolic implements used to sever ego and attachment. The fierce expression on Mahakala’s face is not meant to frighten, but to inspire the courage needed to confront inner demons and worldly distractions. He is the protector of dharma and those who seek to follow the path of righteousness. Legend has it that Mahakala arose from Avalokiteśvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. When Avalokiteśvara witnessed the unending suffering of beings, he vowed to liberate them all. But the immensity of the task overwhelmed him, and his head split into eleven pieces. Amitabha Buddha, witnessing his plight, transformed the pieces into eleven faces. Yet, even with this added ability, Avalokiteśvara still wept at the suffering he saw, and from these tears sprang Tara, the embodiment of swift compassion, and Mahakala, the fierce protector. This tale highlights that even compassion can take on a wrathful form when facing immense suffering.

Craftsmanship and Material

This portable shrine is meticulously crafted from sterling silver, a precious metal that has long been associated with purity and spirituality. The cool luster of the silver enhances the intricate details of Mahakala’s form. The backing is made of copper. This combination offers both beauty and durability. The Gau box features exquisite relief work, capturing the deity’s powerful stance and the intricate details of his garments and ornaments. Observe closely the flame-like halo that emanates from behind Mahakala, representing the burning away of ignorance.

Dimensions and Practicality

Compact in size, measuring 4.0 inches in height, 3.0 inches in width, and 1.2 inches in depth, this Gau box is designed for discreet portability. It can be easily carried in a bag, worn as a pendant (with the addition of a suitable attachment), or placed on a small altar for personal devotion. The interior of the box can be used to hold sacred relics, prayers, mantras, or other objects of personal significance, further empowering its protective and spiritual qualities. It is a miniature temple on the go, a constant reminder of the strength within and the protection that surrounds you.

A Timeless Gift

More than just an adornment, this portable shrine embodies profound spiritual significance. It is a thoughtful gift for anyone seeking solace, protection, or a deeper connection to Buddhist philosophy. It serves as a constant reminder of inner strength and the unwavering support of a powerful protector on life's journey. It is an heirloom to be cherished for generations.

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.