The
Lokapalas are royal guardians of the four directions, protectors of the dharma
in their concentrated purity and power. Each commands a legion of supernatural
creatures and is traditionally placed as anchor points at the entrance of Buddhist
temples.
Vaishravana,
the Guardian King of the North is the “one who hears everything”. This antique
marble statue from the Ming Dynasty carries an umbrella and sits atop a lion that
gazes directly up at him. The deity, in full armor has a potent gaze that conveys
strength, fierceness and steadiness. Over 600 years old and marked by time, this
statue has witnessed the passage of history. This is a powerfully evocative rendition
of this hallmark deity.
