Tibetan Buddhist Deity Eleven Headed Thousand Armed Avalokiteshvara

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Name: Tibetan Buddhist Deity Eleven Headed Thousand Armed Avalokiteshvara
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: EA22
Price: 1090.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$1254

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Specifications

	EA22
	Copper Sculpture gilded with 24 Karat Gold
	14" x 11" x 3.5"
	Weight 5 kg

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100% Handmade

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MADE IN INDIA.

A Manifestation of Compassion

Behold the striking representation of a revered deity, a profound expression of compassion and boundless potential. This exquisite sculpture captures the essence of a powerful Bodhisattva, a figure deeply venerated in Tibetan Buddhism. The sheer complexity of the form, the delicate rendering of each feature, invites the viewer to contemplate the extraordinary nature of enlightened beings. The eleven heads, arranged in a tiered formation, symbolize the Bodhisattva's all-seeing awareness and ability to perceive suffering in every realm. Each face expresses a different aspect of enlightenment, reflecting the multifaceted nature of wisdom and compassion. The serene expressions emanate a calming presence, a reminder of the inherent peace within.

Crafted with Devotion

This magnificent piece is not merely an artistic creation; it is a testament to the dedication and skill of master artisans. Fashioned from copper, a metal valued for its malleability and conductivity, the statue has been meticulously gilded with 24-karat gold. This generous application of gold lends the sculpture an ethereal glow, symbolizing purity and spiritual wealth. The brilliance of the gold further emphasizes the intricate details, from the delicate jewelry adorning the deity to the meticulously rendered hands. The statue's size makes it suitable for personal shrines and alters. Its dimensions command attention without overwhelming a space, allowing for contemplation and reverence. The carefully considered proportions create a sense of balance and harmony, reflecting the equilibrium found in the path to enlightenment.

The Legend of Boundless Arms

The thousand arms, radiating outward like the petals of a lotus, represent the Bodhisattva's capacity to extend help to countless beings simultaneously. This imagery is rooted in the legend of a Bodhisattva who, witnessing the immense suffering of the world, vowed to alleviate it. Overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the task, his head split into eleven, and his arms multiplied into a thousand, enabling him to reach out and offer aid in countless ways. Each hand is often depicted with an eye in its palm, signifying the ability to see and understand the needs of those who are suffering. This iconic representation serves as a powerful reminder of the potential for boundless compassion that lies within each of us. Owning this object is a great gift and may be something worth giving or receiving.

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.