Central Asia, Himalaya region, Tibet / Nepal, ca. 18th to 19th century CE. A fabulous gilt brass tantric and wrathful deity known as Dharmapala, manifesting as Hayagriva , standing upon a pedestal, his feet crushing prone figures of a nude man and woman set upon a lotus pedestal. The deity's face is frightening, with bared teeth, and flared nostrils under glaring eyes, and snakes wrap around his body, a horse head at the top of the headdress, and wielding a staff with vajra (dorje) terminals in his hand. The statue is hollow, but the underside is sealed with a copper panel stamped with a double vajra (visvavajra). Often these devotional statues were filled with paper prayers or relics then sealed! Size: 6.75" L x 3" W x 9.45" H (17.1 cm x 7.6 cm x 24 cm)
Dharmapala are "protectors of the faith" ritualistically used in the monastery's Cham ceremonies depicting the triumph of Buddhism over "demons" that once ruled Tibet. The Cham dances were performed to commemorate the introduction of Buddhism by Padmasambhava in the 8th century CE and its victory over the animist Bon religion. The fearsome visage was created to protect the faith from demonic forces of the former religion as well as eliminate any obstacle that stood in the way of the path toward Enlightenment. Hayagriva is one of these protectors and worshipped as the patron deity of horse merchants- the characteristic horse head protrudes from the headdress. Hayagriva is usually shown as a horse-headed deity, but in one myth he challenges the demon of vice, Rudra, to battle and Hayagriva enters Rudra's anus, destroying the demon from the inside out, the horse head emerging from the skull, and the triumphant Hayagriva then uses Rudra's body like a garment.
Provenance: private Hawaii collection, acquired 2000 to 2010
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#177431
Condition
Repaired, deity is reattached to prone figures under feet. Rest is intact and very good. Dark patina and toning. Nicks and abrasions to high pointed areas. Metal plate on base is sealed.