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Mongolian Buddhist Ritual Altar Object

Mid-late 19th Century monumental relief-carved wooden wish-fulfilling jewel  

Dimensions: 20 inches (51 cm) Tall

Weight: 1.762 kilos ( 2 lbs 15 oz)

Price: $1750

Shipping Price: To be discussed later with buyer

Item Number:W119

  This wish-fulfilling jewel offering object is essentially in the shape of the jewel supposed to have the power to grant wishes. Painted on the front is a powerful emanation of a wrathful deity, possibly Mahakala - whose mouth is contorted to an angry smile with long fangs protruding.

Such wrathful deities are benevolent gods who symbolize the tremendous effort it takes to vanquish evil and protect the faithful by instilling terror in evil spirits. These deities are called dharmapalas - meaning "defender of the dharma or Law." Wrathful deities, although benevolent, are represented as hideous and ferocious in order to defeat evil spirits which threaten the dharma.

The offering sits upon a solid wooden base. The base of the pedestal is surrounded by swastika motifs – an auspicious sign used in Buddhism as a symbol of the Law or Dharma. Above this, the pedestal is decorated with a mosaic of vegetal and geometrical motifs supporting stylized lotus petals. The offering jewel itself arises from waters in a three-lobed lotus receptacle.

The wrathful face is surrounded by shapes that are presumably turquoise and sapphire treasure and these in turn are surrounded by leaf and vine designs. Arising towards the apex there is a second wish-fulfilling gem, itself surrounded by amber treasures. The apex of the offering is in gold. Such jewels are supposed to be the treasures of the nagas , so they are supposed to be on the water - this wish-fulfilling form indeed arises from a floating lotus.

This ritual offering item was presumably once part of a shrine setting housed within a monastery’s gon-khang (protective chapel). It is an important feature of most Tibetan and Mongolian monasteries. It houses the guardian figures dharmapalas and wrathful personal deities (yidam) that are important to the monastery. Together they protect:

  The sculpture is in excellent condition considering its age. A vertical drying crack running the length of the piece has been secured with great skill.

 

 

If you would like to see more pictures, please don't hesitate to ask and I will send you a zip file full of them.

 

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