Marpa, known by the title Lotsawa (translator), played a decisive role in transmitting Buddhist teachings from India to Tibet. As a direct student of Naropa, he brought important Mahamudra and Vajrayana teachings to Tibet and is regarded as the founder of the Kagyu school. As the teacher of Milarepa, he shaped the early transmission of this lineage in a lasting way.
The statue depicts Marpa seated on a half-round pedestal. His legs are loosely crossed, the hands rest over the knees, and the middle fingers touch the ground. The torso is upright, and the abdomen slightly rounded. His facial expression combines firmness with gentleness. The garment is high-collared and crossed at the front, covering the entire upper body, arms, and legs.
Both the garment and the pedestal are decorated with filigree. Fine spiral shapes, partially filled with smaller arched elements, form a continuous ornamental pattern. The filigree follows the folds of the garment and emphasizes its flowing movement. Colored stones accent the decoration. The finely worked, brocade-like structure highlights the refined character of the garment. A central rosette appears on the back of the figure. The front of the pedestal features a double lotus band in filigree.
The figure belongs to the Marpa–Milarepa–Gampopa ensemble, a group rarely found in this artistic quality. The dense and carefully structured filigree work reflects a high level of craftsmanship and the regard with which the figure was created. The three figures share the same size and execution and form a coherent ensemble.
Statue made of copper, traditional lost-wax cast, filigree, gold- and silver-plated, set with colored stones. The figure has been patinated. The face is set in gold. Handmade in Nepal.
NOTE
The facial paint is a cold gold application and water-soluble.
Yala Craft by Shanta is an Asian company based in Germany. I sell my traditional Buddhist sculpture art, created in my own workshop in Nepal.