Tibetan Buddhist Deity Yamantaka With Yami - Made in Nepal

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Name: Tibetan Buddhist Deity Yamantaka With Yami - Made in Nepal
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: ZEM838
Price: 395.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$494

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Specifications

	ZEM838
	COPPER STATUE FROM NEPAL
	Height: 5.7 inch
	Width: 1.5 inch
	Depth: 4.2 inch
	Weight 500 gm

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Fully Insured

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100% Handmade

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MADE IN INDIA.

The Victorious Over Death

This exquisite copper statue, handcrafted in Nepal, depicts the powerful deity Yamantaka in union with his consort Yami. Yamantaka, the "Conqueror of Death," is a wrathful emanation of Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom. He embodies the fierce aspect of compassion, tasked with overcoming ignorance and the fear of death that binds sentient beings. His terrifying form, with multiple faces, arms, and legs, represents his immense power to subdue all obstacles, internal and external. The dynamic pose and intricate details of this statue capture his fierce energy and transformative nature. The legend of Yamantaka is deeply rooted in Tibetan Buddhist cosmology. It is said that he emerged to defeat Yama, the Lord of Death, who was unjustly claiming the lives of sentient beings. By conquering Yama, Yamantaka demonstrated that death is not an end, but a transition that can be transcended through wisdom and spiritual practice. He is often depicted trampling a buffalo, symbolizing the subjugation of worldly desires and the ego, which are seen as the roots of suffering and the fear of mortality. The fiery aura surrounding Yamantaka represents his purifying wisdom, burning away obscurations and illusions.

Divine Consort and Symbolic Imagery

The presence of Yami, also known as Vajravarnani or Shakti, alongside Yamantaka, signifies the union of wisdom and method, emptiness and compassion. Their embrace represents the indivisible nature of ultimate reality, where fierce wisdom is inseparable from loving-kindness. Yami, depicted with her own unique iconography, embodies the active, feminine principle that complements Yamantaka's resolute power. Together, they represent the complete path to enlightenment, where all aspects of existence are embraced and transformed. The intricate details of their adornments, the skull crown on Yamantaka, and the various implements he wields, all carry profound symbolic meanings within the tantric tradition, pointing towards the ultimate liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

A Testament to Nepali Craftsmanship

This statue is a remarkable example of traditional Nepali artistry, meticulously crafted from copper. The artisans of Nepal have a long and revered history of creating sacred objects, drawing upon centuries of spiritual and artistic tradition. Each element of this piece, from the individual rendering of the flames to the nuanced expressions on the deities' faces, reflects the skill, devotion, and deep understanding of Buddhist iconography. The patina and finish enhance the tactile and visual appeal, giving the copper a sense of age and spiritual gravitas. Owning such a piece is not merely acquiring an object of beauty, but bringing into your home a conduit for spiritual energy and a reminder of the profound teachings of Tibetan Buddhism.

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.