Manjushri, revered in the Buddhist tradition as the Bodhisattva of Wisdom, is shown here in a tantric representation with his consort in Yab Yum. In this form he embodies the union of insight and its expression, a structure that has been transmitted in the Vajrayana tradition for centuries.
Manjushri sits in padma asana on a lotus pedestal, his consort seated on his lap in close embrace. In his right hand he holds the flaming sword of insight. Beside his left shoulder rises a lotus blossom bearing the book of the prajnaparamita; his left hand, in vitarka mudra, grasps the stem of the lotus behind the back of his consort. Both figures wear the five-pointed crown and the full ornaments of a bodhisattva. The consort, shown adorned only with her ornaments, holds a vajra in her right hand and a skull cup (kapala) in her left, and is depicted with a third eye on her forehead.
The lotus pedestal and Manjushri’s robe are set with filigree work. Fine wire spirals are filled with small arched elements and arranged into a dense ornamental pattern. Colored stones accentuate the filigree. Three Dzi beads are set along the front of the pedestal, with an additional bead placed at the back. The precision of the filigree work and the careful stone settings underline the refined craftsmanship of the sculpture. The balanced order of the ornaments and the calm treatment of the surfaces give the figure a coherent artistic presence.
Statue made of copper, traditional lost-wax cast, adorned with fine filigree, gold- and silver-plated, set with turquoise, coral, and lapis lazuli. A band of artificial stones runs around the lower edge of the base. The figure is patinated. 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.