Tantric Form of Green Tara with Phurpa

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Name: Tantric Form of Green Tara with Phurpa
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: XD38
Price: 440.00 USD
Availability: InStock

฿12,467

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Specifications

	XD38
	Copper Sculpture
	Height: 9.2 inch
	Width: 6.6 inch
	Depth: 4.7 inch
	Weight 2.63 kg

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100% Handmade

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MADE IN INDIA.

Tara: The Bodhisattva of Compassion

In the rich tapestry of Tibetan Buddhism, Tara shines as a beacon of compassion, swift action, and unwavering protection. She is revered as the "Mother of all Buddhas," embodying the feminine aspect of wisdom and skillful means. Her essence is that of enlightened activity, readily available to all who call upon her in times of need. Tara's origins are steeped in legend, with one account stating that she emerged from the tear shed by Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, as he witnessed the suffering of the world. Determined to ease the burden of sentient beings, she vowed to attain enlightenment in female form, vowing to ceaselessly work for the benefit of all. This devotion to the alleviation of suffering permeates all aspects of Tara's practice. She is known for her quick response to prayers and her ability to remove obstacles and grant wishes. Her mantra, "Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha," is a powerful invocation that resonates with her compassionate energy. By reciting this mantra, practitioners seek her blessings, protection, and guidance on the path to enlightenment.

Unveiling a Powerful Form

This remarkable copper sculpture presents a unique and potent aspect of Tara, one that reveals her fierce compassion and transformative power. Seated in a posture of meditative equilibrium upon a lotus throne, her hands are held in a variation of the Anjali Mudra, symbolizing reverence and devotion. In her lower hand, she holds the ritual dagger (Phurpa), a symbol of her ability to cut through ignorance, delusion, and negative forces. This is more than just a static representation; it is a visualization of Tara actively dismantling obstacles on the path to liberation. This particular depiction embodies Tara’s ability to confront and overcome challenges head-on. The Phurpa, typically associated with Vajrakilaya, symbolizes the piercing of illusions and the transmuting of negativity into wisdom. It represents her power to subdue negative forces, both internal and external, that hinder our spiritual progress. The crown adorning her head is an ornate testament to her enlightened status, set with inlaid details that suggest the meticulous craftsmanship that has gone into creating this piece. The face is serene, but radiates power, conveying a sense of resolute strength. This exquisite copper sculpture provides a tangible connection to Tara's dynamic energy, making it a potent addition to any sacred space or collection.

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.