Tibetan Buddhist Mahakala Phurpa Carved in Crystal - Made in Nepal

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Tibetan Buddhist Mahakala Phurpa Carved in Crystal - Made in Nepal

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Name: Tibetan Buddhist Mahakala Phurpa Carved in Crystal - Made in Nepal
Brand: Exotic India
SKU: ZEM719
Price: 660.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$618.75

$825

25% off

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Specifications

	ZEM719
	Crsytal and Copper Sculpture gilded with 24 Karat Gold
	Height: 15.5 inch
	Width: 2.7 inch
	Depth: 2.7 inch
	Weight 480 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.

Guardians of Dharma: A Sacred Phurpa of Mahakala

This exquisite phurpa, a ritualistic dagger central to Tibetan Buddhist practice, is a powerful testament to spiritual devotion and artisanal mastery. Crafted in Nepal, it embodies the fierce protection and transformative energy of Mahakala, one of the principal wrathful deities in Tibetan Buddhism. Mahakala, meaning "Great Black One," is a manifestation of compassion, appearing in wrathful form to overcome obstacles and negativities that hinder spiritual progress. His image often inspires awe and a sense of overwhelming power, symbolizing the ability to transcend fear and delusion.

Symbolism and Craftsmanship

The phurpa itself is a potent symbol, representing the "nail" or "peg" that pins down and destroys delusions, negative emotions, and obstacles to enlightenment. Its triangular blade is understood to represent the three realms of existence (desire, form, and formless), which are to be pierced and subdued. This particular phurpa is intricately designed, featuring a central shaft carved from luminous crystal. Crystal, known for its purity and clarity, is believed to amplify energy and promote spiritual awareness, perfectly complementing the phurpa's purpose.

Divine Adornments

The upper and lower sections of the phurpa are adorned with meticulously crafted copper work, highlighted with a lavish 24-karat gold gilding. These ornate metal elements are further enhanced with vibrant semi-precious stones, including what appear to be turquoise and coral. The presence of multiple faces at the crown of the phurpa evokes the multi-faceted nature of Mahakala, capable of confronting and subduing all forms of ignorance and suffering. The serpent coiled around the crystal blade symbolizes the primal energy of kundalini, which when awakened and guided, leads to spiritual realization. The use of copper, often associated with the divine in many traditions, and the 24-karat gold, signifying purity and the highest spiritual attainment, elevate this object to a truly sacred status.

A Connection to the Divine

Originating from Nepal, a land steeped in Buddhist and Hindu traditions, this phurpa carries the authentic spirit of Himalayan artistry and spirituality. It is more than just an object; it is a conduit for spiritual energy, intended to aid practitioners in their meditation and rituals. The powerful iconography and the masterful craftsmanship combine to create an object of profound beauty and spiritual significance, a worthy addition to any altar or sacred space, inviting the protective blessings of Mahakala into your life.

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.