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8" Tibetan Buddhist Gurus - Gampopa, Milarepa, and Marpha | Gilded Copper Statue from Nepal

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In the vibrant tapestry of Tibetan Buddhism, the triumvirate of Milarepa, Marpa, and Gampopa stands as a testament to the transformative power of devotion, guidance, and the transmission of profound teachings. Milarepa, a legendary 11th-century figure, embarked on an extraordinary journey from a dark past as a vengeful sorcerer to the luminous path of enlightenment. His life, poetically chronicled in songs and teachings, remains a beacon of inspiration, illustrating the redemptive potency of perseverance, meditation, and unwavering devotion.

At the heart of Milarepa’s spiritual evolution was Marpa the Translator, his guru and a pivotal figure in propagating Indian Buddhist wisdom in Tibet. Marpa’s rigorous yet transformative guidance paved the way for Milarepa’s enlightenment, symbolizing the transmission of sacred knowledge from master to disciple.

Gampopa, often called the “physical from Dhagpo,” emerges as an integrator of the Kagyu lineage. Transcending his origins as a physical, he synthesized the teachings of Milarepa and Marpa into a cohesive framework. Gampopa’s contribution lies in blending the profound Mahamudra teachings inherited from Milarepa with the foundational principles of the Kadampa tradition, giving rise to the Kagyu lineage as a distinct and potent path to enlightenment.

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Item Code:	MIU211
Specifications:	COPPER GILDED WITH GOLD
Height:	8 inch
Width:	21 inch
Depth:	4 inch
Weight:	4.80 kg

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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.