12" Buddhist Deity Vajrapani Copper Idol from Nepal

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12" Buddhist Deity Vajrapani Copper Idol from Nepal

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$1116

$1488

25% off

Includes any tariffs and taxes

Only 1 available

Vajrapani, a significant Bodhisattva in Buddhism, is renowned for embodying attributes of power, protection, and spiritual fortitude. The name Vajrapani translates to “Vajra in Hand,” emphasizing his association with the ritual thunderbolt, symbolizing unyielding spiritual strength. Vajrapani is depicted with dynamic and wrathful countenance, Vajarapani plays an active role in safeguarding the Dharma and guiding practitioners on their path to enlightenment.

In his right hand, he wields the vajra, representing the unbreakable nature of enlightenment and the skillful means required to attain it. His left hand holds a bell, symbolizing wisdom, with its sound believed to dispel ignorance and awaken beings to the truth of enlightenment.

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Specifications

	NLH014
	Copper With Gold
	Height: 12 inch
	Width: 8 inch
	Depth: 4.5 inch
	Weight 2.90 kg

Delivery and Return Policies

	Usually ships in 6 days
	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.

The Wrathful Protector: Embodiment of Vajrapani

This striking idol from Nepal captures the fierce and protective energy of Vajrapani, a prominent Bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism. Standing tall and dynamic, Vajrapani embodies the power to overcome obstacles and vanquish inner demons. In Buddhist mythology, Vajrapani is often depicted as a wrathful deity, a manifestation of the Buddha's power, symbolizing the thunderbolt (vajra) of enlightened wisdom that shatters ignorance and delusion. He is one of the three great Bodhisattvas—along with Manjushri and Avalokiteshvara—each representing a specific aspect of Buddhahood: power, wisdom, and compassion, respectively. The artistry of this piece speaks volumes about its origin and spiritual significance. Crafted from copper and meticulously gilded, the idol emanates a radiant aura. The surface shimmers with the warmth of gold, highlighting every detail of Vajrapani's powerful form. The intricate ornamentation, including embedded turquoise and red stones, adds vibrant accents to the rich golden hue, further enhancing the deity's imposing presence. The flaming aureole that encircles Vajrapani is a classic iconography, representing the boundless and transformative nature of enlightened energy, consuming all negativity and ignorance.

Iconographic Details and Symbolism

Vajrapani's fearsome countenance is a deliberate artistic choice, signifying his role as a vanquisher of malevolent forces and a protector of the Dharma. His multiple eyes gaze intensely, symbolizing his omniscience and vigilant watch over practitioners. The bared fangs and ferocious expression are not meant to inspire fear in the devout, but rather to represent the ultimate dissolution of ego and attachment. In his hands, Vajrapani typically holds a vajra (thunderbolt scepter), a potent symbol of indestructible wisdom, and often a lasso, used to bind and overcome negative forces. The dynamic pose, with one leg forward and the other bent, conveys a sense of immediate action and overwhelming power. This posture is reminiscent of ancient warrior gods from various cultures, unified here in a distinctly Buddhist context to represent the warrior-like strength required to achieve spiritual liberation.

Auspicious Craftsmanship from Nepal

The tradition of creating such intricate Buddhist sculptures in Nepal is ancient and deeply rooted in spiritual practice. These idols are not merely decorative objects but are considered sacred conduits for spiritual energy and devotion. The use of copper, a metal revered for its purity and conductive properties, combined with the auspicious gleam of gold, elevates this piece to a level of spiritual significance. Such creations are often commissioned for monasteries, temples, or personal altars, serving as focal points for meditation and prayer. The meticulous craftsmanship, passed down through generations of Newari artisans, ensures that each idol is a unique masterpiece, imbued with the prayers and intentions of its maker. Owning a piece like this is to connect with a rich cultural heritage and to invite the protective blessings of Vajrapani 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.