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Tibetan
Silver Gilded Bronze Buddha Statue
White
Mahakala
Wealth Bestowing Deity
Circa:
Early 20th century
H 13.5 in(34cm), W 9 in(23cm), D 5 in(12.5cm)
Condition: excellent! A
large and impressive Mahakala, this silver casting represents the White Mahakala,
who is a power influencing wealth as well as the protector of the doctrine and
slayer of enemies of enlightenment. |
 | Mahakala
is often seen at the entrance of every Buddhist monastery in Katmandu valley.He
is one of the most worshipped deity believed to be created by Avalokiteshvara,
who proclaimed, “Son of the family, you shall have the strength of the wrathful
Yama, Lord of Death. You shall have the mountain spirits, the yakshas, the devils
and the demonesses as your messengers. ” Ever since, Mahakala has remained the
doctrine protector of all the Buddha fields. |
 | Private
Collection |  |
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This
wrathful Mahakala is bedecked with ornaments of writhing serpents, a garland of
severed heads and a crown of five skulls symbolizing the five defilements. His
left hand holds a kapala (skull bowl) filled with blood representing the subjugation
of evil ones. His tiger-skin loincloth symbolizes purification of desire; the
tiger’s draped head hangs on the reverse side of the statue. The Mahakala has
three eyes symbolizing his clarity and perception of the Three Times. He growls
ferociously against the blazing fire behind him; his fangs protrude from his mouth
which is smeared with blood signifying that he is active in crushing evil. He
is seen here surmounting a figure of Ganesh, as a sign that pristine wisdom is
supreme above both samsara and nirvana. This Mahakala is superbly carved and heavily
cast in three pieces--Mahakala figure, flaming aura and the Ganesh base, which
is well-proportioned and set with coils of rising flame. |
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