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12" Medicine Buddha (Buddha Bhaisajyaguru) From Nepal

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With a single-minded focus on the ultimate goal of human life- Enlightenment, Buddhism chalks out the path an individual has to follow for spiritual victory. In this pious journey, the existence of hurdles and struggles that tire the soul is a natural occurrence, and to protect themselves from the ill effects of the visible and invisible evil forces, the follower seeks refuge in the Medicine Buddha, known as Buddha Bhaisajyaguru. Embodying the energies that heal a soul, this copper Medicine Buddha from Nepal holds the powers to purify the ambiance, within and outside your body and mind.

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Item Code:	WSA072
Specifications:	Copper
Height:	12 inch
Width:	8 inch
Depth:	10 inch
Weight:	3.30 kg

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The copper Medicine Buddha or Buddha Bhaisajyaguru is seated on a magnificent blooming lotus throne with a double row of petals, which is called “Vishwapadmasana”. The petals of the lotus flower are delineated with artistic precision and symmetry, in a manner that makes them appear stylized as well as naturalistic. The use of golden and black tones over the natural brown of the copper gives the lotus throne a distinctive visual appeal. On the smoothed surface of the Vishwapadmasana, the copper Medicine Buddha is placed, with his legs folded in the Padmasana (Padma-lotus, aasana- posture, a yogic posture), his left hand facing the ground in the gesture of disseminating boons, or “Varada mudra” and his right hand placed in his lap, with a golden bowl. The twig of the plant in Buddha Bhaisajyaguru’s hand and his bowl are parts of the myrobalan plum plant, which is given to a sick person to rid their body of impurities.

The features of this copper Medicine Buddha icon include the elements used in a Buddha image- coiled hair, a golden cranial protuberance, elongated earlobes, meditative eyes, three lines on the neck (flesh folds, an attribute of great men), and a divine body which glistens gloriously, thanks to the tasteful polishing of the copper surface. Creating an appealing contrast with the body of this copper Medicine Buddha statue, the sculptor has offered Bhaisajyaguru a black-colored robe, with a golden vegetal border, and proportioned floral patterns drawn on the fabric using incised lines.

The detailed work on this copper Bhaisajyaguru icon from Nepal can be cherished on the reverse of the statue, where the curled hair held in a knot is beautifully defined and the floral embellishment of the robe are noticeable.

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.