Materials:
Sterling silver
Gold plate
Solid Nepali ruby main figure
Coral, lapis lazuli, turquoise, & buffalo bone inlay

Dimensions & Weight:
Height: 26 inches from base to top of umbrella
Width: 15 inches
Depth: 10.5 inches
Weight: 5,650 grams

Shipping Origin: Kathmandu, Nepal

Description:
Master Nepali craftsman created this absolutely exquisite solid raw ruby Vajrayogini and solid sterling silver inlaid gem shrine. The body of this incredible Vajrayogini is crafted of one solid piece of raw Nepali ruby; hanging around the body of the Vajrayogini is a mala of silver inlaid with skulls crafted of buffalo bone.

This Masterpiece is intricately inlaid with lapis lazuli, coral, turquoise, and buffalo bone. At the base in front is a carved coral Garuda.

The carved gem figures on the Prabha, which detaches from the shrine, are (clockwise from bottom left):
Elephant (lapis lazuli)
Mahakala Shakti (turquoise)
Vajrayogini Shakti mounted on a horse (turquoise and buffalo bone)
Dragon (lapis lazuli, turquoise & coral)
Chenrezig (buffalo bone)
Shakyamuni Buddha (turquoise)
Manjushri (coral)
Dragon (lapis lazuli, turquoise & coral)
Vajrayogini Shakti mounted on a horse (turquoise and buffalo bone)
Mahakala Shakti (turquoise)
Elephant (lapis lazui)

On the rear of the Prabha are carved gem figures of the Holy Bird, Buddha’s Eye, and Kalasha. To either side of the ruby Vajrayogini are two Mahakala figures in lapis lazuli. On the right and left sides of the base are additional carved gem figures of the Holy Bird; on the rear of the base is a carved lapis figure of the Holy Deer. The four legs supporting this wonderful shrine are vajras carved of lapis lazuli. Topping this exquisite sculpture is a three-tier Holy Blessing Umbrella with additional gem inlay and hung with Bodhi tree leaves. The stunning detail and craftsmanship displayed in this unique Masterpiece is remarkable.


Iconography:
Vajrayoginī is visualized as the translucent, deep red form of a 16-year-old female with the third eye of wisdom set vertically on her forehead. Vajrayoginī is generally depicted with the traditional accoutrements of a ḍākiṇī, including a driguk (a vajra-handled flaying knife,) in her right hand and a kapala filled with blood in her left hand that she drinks from with upturned mouth. Her consort Cakrasaṃvara is often symbolically depicted as a khaṭvāṅga on Vajrayoginī's left shoulder, when she is in "solitary hero" form. Vajrayoginī's khaṭvāṅga is marked with a vajra and from it hangs a damaru drum, a bell, and a triple banner. Her extended right leg treads on the chest of red Kālarātri, while her bent left leg treads on the forehead of black Bhairava, bending his head backward and pressing it into his back at the level of his heart. Her head is adorned with a crown of five human skulls and she wears a necklace of fifty human skulls. She is depicted as standing in the center of a blazing fire of exalted wisdom.
Each aspect of Vajrayoginī's form and mandala is designed to convey a spiritual meaning. For example, her brilliant red-colored body symbolizes the blazing of her tummo or "inner fire". Her single face symbolizes that she has realized that all phenomena are of one nature in emptiness. Her two arms symbolize her realization of the two truths. Her three eyes symbolize her ability to see everything in the past, present and future. She looks upward toward the Pure Dākiṇī Land, demonstrating her attainment of outer and inner Pure Dākiṇī Land, and indicating that she leads her followers to these attainments. The curved driguk knife in her right hand shows her power to cut the continuum of the delusions and obstacles of her followers and of all living beings. Drinking the blood from the kapala in her left hand symbolizes her experience of the clear light of bliss.

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