Avalokiteshvara has a special bond with the people of Tibet, as while on his path to Buddhahood, this Boddhisattva returned back voluntarily to lead all beings together to Buddhahood, thus away from all the material aspects of the world.
He is a manifestation of the self-born Amitabha Buddha and is filled with infinite compassion and mercy for the people suffering pains and loss in the whole world.
Just like the way shown here, he sits on a lotus pedestal in a meditation posture, decked up with charming jewels enhancing his divine and beauteous aura.
The name ‘Avalokiteshvara’ translates itself as ‘the lord who gazes down at the world’ and on seeing the immense sufferings of the people, he couldn’t stop himself from crying, thus marked the birth of White Tara and Green Tara.
The sculptor has amazingly carved this brass Avalokiteshvara statue with the anterior hands joined in namaskara mudra and eyes half-closed in a gesture of meditation. Focus on the intrinsic carvings of the crown that is glorified on all his eleven heads. He is a warrior Bodhisattva who with his selfless Buddha manifestation took the step of returning back to the path of enlightenment to help all and lead all to Buddhahood.
The bodhisattva of compassion, Avalokitesvara (Chenrezi to Tibetans) is portrayed here in his most powerful, royal form, with eleven faces, one thousand eyes, and one thousand arms. He is saluted in a common Tibetan prayer as "The holy Avalokiteshvara, who has a thousand arms of the thousand universal monarchs, the thousand eyes of the thousand Buddhas of this good eon, and who manifests whatsoever is appropriate to tame whatsoever!"
There are several versions of the legend explaining his eleven heads, but they all resolve themselves into the following:
Avalokiteshvara, the all pitying one, descended into hell, converted the wicked, liberated them, and conducted them to Sukhavati, the paradise of his spiritual father, Amitabha.
He discovered, however, to his dismay, that for every culprit converted and liberated, another instantly took his place. Legend claims that his head split into ten pieces from grief and despair on discovering the extent of wickedness in the world, and the utter hopelessness of saving all mankind. Amitabha caused each piece to become ahead, and placed the heads on the body of his spiritual son, Avalokitesvara. Nine of the heads have benign faces and are depicted in three rows; the tenth has an angry face, while the head at the top is that of Amitabha.
All the heads, except that of Amitabha, is crowned. In contrast to the floral crowns of the three rows of heads, the top wrathful head is adorned with a crown of skulls.
At a symbolic level, eight of the heads represent the cardinal directions and their intermediate points, and the other three signify the zenith, the center, and the nadir.
Fascinating as this myth is, it probably disguises an earlier myth of cosmic creation in which a primal being created the universe by disintegrating his own person.
Amitabha further said to Avalokiteshvara that there was still another way to accomplish his goal. Mahakala, the wrathful aspect of Avalokitesvara, was then created to fight against negative forces with compassion and to destroy obstacles in the path towards righteousness, thereby helping all sentient beings reach enlightenment. The tenth wrathful head is thus that of Mahakala.
In addition Avalokiteshvara is given a thousand arms which form a mandala around his body and symbolize his pervasiveness. The palm of each hand is marked with an eye, the 'eye of mercy', to see the sufferings of all beings, and to help sentient beings overcome them.
The two central arms hold a wish-fulfilling gem; one main right arm is holding the wheel of combined spiritual teaching and benevolent governance; another upraised right hand holds the rosary. a left hand holds a bow and arrow, their pairing symbolizes the coincidence of wisdom and method, or the union of wisdom and concentration. Another upraised left hand holds a lotus in full bloom. This is a symbol of purity, renunciation, and divinity.
Of Related Interest:
Eleven Headed Avalokitesvara Chenresigs, Kuan-yin, or Kannon Bodhisattva: Its Origin and Iconography
The Bodhisattva Ideal: Buddhism and the Aesthetics of Selflessness
How to keep a Brass statue well-maintained?
Brass statues are known and appreciated for their exquisite beauty and luster. The brilliant bright gold appearance of Brass makes it appropriate for casting aesthetic statues and sculptures. Brass is a metal alloy composed mainly of copper and zinc. This chemical composition makes brass a highly durable and corrosion-resistant material. Due to these properties, Brass statues and sculptures can be kept both indoors as well as outdoors. They also last for many decades without losing all their natural shine.
Brass statues can withstand even harsh weather conditions very well due to their corrosion-resistance properties. However, maintaining the luster and natural beauty of brass statues is essential if you want to prolong their life and appearance.
In case you have a colored brass statue, you may apply mustard oil using a soft brush or clean cloth on the brass portion while for the colored portion of the statue, you may use coconut oil with a cotton cloth.
Brass idols of Hindu Gods and Goddesses are especially known for their intricate and detailed work of art. Nepalese sculptures are famous for small brass idols portraying Buddhist deities. These sculptures are beautified with gold gilding and inlay of precious or semi-precious stones. Religious brass statues can be kept at home altars. You can keep a decorative brass statue in your garden or roof to embellish the area and fill it with divinity.
Made of quality brass, this ornate piece is long-lasting and sturdy. Make your home or office look beautiful and graceful with this decorative piece of work.
Handmade with love, this figurine has a smooth and lustrous finish. It comes with attractive detailing that brings peace and prosperity to your atmosphere.
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Use a soft cotton cloth to wipe the statue. You can also use a hint of Coconut or Kerosene oil to help in clearing out any accumulated dirt overtime.
Brass
3.35 KG
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