Jambhala, revered in the Buddhist tradition as the deity of wealth and generosity, is shown here with his consort Vasudhara in Yab Yum. Jambhala embodies prosperity directed toward the welfare of others, while Vasudhara represents the complementary female force of abundance.
Jambhala sits in lalit asana on a lotus pedestal, with his consort seated closely on his lap. His right leg is extended and rests on a small lotus blossom beside a conch shell, the left leg is bent. In his right hand he holds a Jambhara fruit, in his left a mongoose (nakula) that vomits jewels. Vasudhara also holds a Jambhara fruit — mirroring Jambhala’s gesture — and a lotus in her left hand. Both figures wear the five-pointed crown and the full ornaments of a bodhisattva. Their faces are showing the wrathful expression characteristic of this iconographic form. Jambhala is depicted with a third eye on his forehead.
The robe and the lotus pedestal are set with filigree work. Fine wires are shaped into spiral and arched elements and arranged into a dense, clearly structured surface pattern. Colored stones accentuate the filigree, a continuous band of colored stones encircles the lower pedestal. The precision of the filigree technique and the careful stone settings underline the refined craftsmanship, while the balanced arrangement of the ornaments highlights the artistic quality of the sculpture.
The depiction follows the tantric visual tradition of the Vajrayana, in which attribute, posture and expression form a coherent iconographic unity. Jambhala and Vasudhara are shown here in a form that conveys their roles as forces of abundance and protective generosity.
Statue made of copper, cast using the traditional lost-wax method, adorned with filigree ornaments, gold- and silver-plated, set with colored stones. Patinated for an antique finish. The faces are set in gold. Handmade in Nepal.
NOTE
The face painting 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.