Tibetan Buddhist Heruka Vajrakila - Made in Nepal

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Name: Tibetan Buddhist Heruka Vajrakila - Made in Nepal
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: ZEM856
Price: 1540.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$1925

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Specifications

	ZEM856
	COPPER STATUE FROM NEPAL
	Height: 13.7 inch
	Width: 5 inch
	Depth: 10 inch
	Weight 5.38 kg

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100% Handmade

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MADE IN INDIA.

The Wrathful Protector: A Symbol of Spiritual Power

This striking copper statue, meticulously crafted in Nepal, embodies the fierce and protective aspect of Tibetan Buddhism. It depicts Heruka Vajrakila, a wrathful deity renowned for his ability to overcome obstacles and negativity. Heruka, a class of semi-divine beings in Buddhism, are often depicted in a terrifying form to symbolize their power over ignorance and illusion. Vajrakila, specifically, is a tantric deity whose name translates to "vajra dagger," representing the indestructible wisdom that pierces through spiritual impediments. The iconography of this sculpture is rich with meaning. The multi-armed form of Heruka Vajrakila signifies his boundless energy and his capacity to engage with all aspects of existence. Each hand holds a ritual object, potent symbols of spiritual power and protection. The central figure's ferocious expression, often featuring multiple faces and adorned with skulls, is not intended to inspire fear but rather to reflect the overwhelming force required to subdue negative forces and negative emotions such as anger, greed, and ignorance. The flames surrounding the deity represent wisdom and purification, burning away obscurations and negativity.

Mythological Significance and Cultural Context

In Tibetan lore, Heruka Vajrakila is a vital protector of the Dharma, the teachings of the Buddha. He is invoked to remove obstacles to spiritual practice and to safeguard practitioners from harm, both physical and spiritual. Legends tell of Vajrakila's descent to Earth to subdue demons that threatened the teachings and to establish a pure land. His fierce aspect is a reminder that the path to enlightenment requires a resolute and unyielding effort to confront and overcome inner demons. This deity is particularly associated with the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, where his practice is considered highly efficacious for achieving rapid spiritual progress. The placement of vanquished figures beneath the deity's feet is a common motif, symbolizing the complete triumph of enlightened wisdom over ignorance and ego.

Artistic Craftsmanship and Materials

This exquisite statue is a testament to the skill of Nepalese artisans, who have preserved traditional methods of metalwork for generations. Fashioned from high-quality copper, the statue has been expertly sculpted and finished to highlight the intricate details of the divine form. The application of contrasting patinas further enhances the visual depth, bringing out the dynamic musculature, the fierce facial features, and the delicate adornments. The detailed rendering of the flaming halo, the skulls, and the various symbolic implements held by the deity showcases a profound understanding of Buddhist iconography and a masterful command of the medium. Each element, from the powerful stance to the menacing yet ultimately compassionate expression, is rendered with precision and devotion, creating a powerful and evocative representation of a significant Buddhist protector.

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.