Materials:
Lapis, coral, and turquoise inlay
Buffalo bone
Pearls (dragon eyes)
Gold-plated copper

Dimensions & Weight:
Height: 11.5 inches
Weight: 1 kilogram

Shipping Origin: Kathmandu, Nepal

Description:
Master Nepali craftsman created this exquisite Mahakala statue, inlaid with lapis lazuli, coral, and turquoise. The main figure is carved from solid pieces of lapis lazuli. Aparmita (carved from coral), above Mahakala, is seated like Buddha and his hands lie on his lap in Dhyana Mudra holding the ambrosia vase (in turquoise), his special emblem.

Mahakala is a protector deity in Vajrayana Buddhism. Mahakala has six arms, three eyes and is of the brilliance of 10 million fires of dissolution – dwelling in the midst of eight cremation grounds. He is adorned with skulls, standing on the corpse of Ganesh and holds a trident, a drum, a sword, and a scythe in his hands. He is adorned with ashes from the cremation ground and surrounded by two dragons with eyes of pearls.

Mahakala represents the ultimate destructive power and is not bounded by any rules or regulations. He has the power to dissolve even time and space into themselves and exists as a void at the dissolution of the universe. Mahakala is also responsible for annihilating great evils and demons when other gods and Devas fail to do so.

Mahakala is typically black in color. Just as all colors are absorbed and dissolved into black, all names and forms are said to melt into those of Mahakala, symbolizing his all-embracing, comprehensive nature. Black can also represent the total absence of color, and again in this case it signifies the nature of Mahakala as ultimate or absolute reality.

All schools of Tibetan Buddhism rely on Mahakala. His three eyes symbolize his clear comprehension of the three times and the vivid manifestation of the three bodies of Buddha. The crown symbolizes the five poisons: anger, desire, ignorance, jealousy, and pride – transformed into five wisdoms. His six arms symbolize the completion of the six perfections: generosity, patience, morality, diligence, meditation, and wisdom. The tigug knife symbolizes the cutting of ego-attachment. The skull bowl filled with blood symbolizes the subjugation of evil ones. The rosary symbolizes his continuous activity for the benefit of beings. The damaru hand-drum symbolizes his power over the dakinis. His trident symbolizes his power over the three spheres – desire, form, and formlessness. His two feet symbolize means and wisdom. He tramples on Ganesh to symbolize his destruction and dispersal of great obstacles. The sun on which he stands symbolizes his illumination of the darkness of ignorance. The blazing fire prabha behind him symbolizes his action to consume neurotic states of mind. The tiger skin he wears symbolizes the purification of desire; the elephant skin (made of buffalo bone) – purification of pride; the snake – purification of anger. All his other ornaments symbolize that he has the complete qualities of the Buddha.