BUDDHA: Tibetan Green Tara Dancing, Bronze Parcel Gilt, 1800's, 12 inches Tall PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE and LARGER PHOTOS

This is an extraordinarily beautiful statue of Green Tara Dancing cast in Bronze and gilded in Tibet in the 1800's. She is unusually tall, measuring 12 inches and she has a most magnificent patina. Our figure of Green Tara is a perfect representation of a goddess of activity filled with youthful vigor, a fierce savior-goddess of compassion. She is portrayed in an elegant tribhanga (thrice bent) posture, with her left knee bent, as if about to move, dancing on a lotus support. She is one of the most beautiful Taras in my collection.

She holds both of her hands in the Vitarka Mudra, a teaching gesture, with the tips of the thumb and forefinger touching, the circle thus formed is a sign of the Wheel of the Law.  These mudras evoke the energy of teaching and intellectual discussion, or argument; the transmission of a particular teaching with no words, and the circle formed by the thumb and index finger creates a constant flow of energy/information.

It also allows for a transmission of knowledge in a protected way, without being impeded by fear.

On her forehead , she has an  urna , the round shape, an auspicious mark symbolizing a third eye capable of seeing past the mundane world of suffering, samsara, into the world of enlightenment. She also has marks on the palms of her hands. These auspicious marks are much discussed but little agreed upon. And the three rings at her neck which mark her as a mahapursa, an individual of deep spiritual wisdom.

She is loaded down with an abundance of jewels and ornaments as most images of Tara are.

From her left arm sprouts the traditional lotus blossom. The lotus begins life down deep in the mud, but sends its flower bud up above the water in the full sunlight to bloom. So the Lotus is often understood as a kind of symbol of the path an individual makes on his way to Enlightenment. Her diadem, earrings, necklace, lotus, girdle and armbands as well as the double lotus petal socle upon which she stands were all gilded. Some of the gold has naturally been worn away and, combined with the rich chocolate brown of the ungilded parts of the rest of the figure, creates a complex and beautiful overall patina.

This figure is 12 inches tall. She wears dhoti pants, the better to be ready for action. The pants are delicately modeled with a floral design.

But the most important aspect of this figure is her pure dynamism, which is almost impossible to capture in a photograph. There is no significant damage to this figure at all, and no sign of repair or restoration. The bottom is open and she seems to be solid cast from her feet up.

There are twenty-one forms of Tara, each one associated with a different color and specific qualities. One etymology of her name is that it is derived from the Sanskrit Tar, which means "to cross over"; she is one who helps sentient beings cross over from mere worldly existence. Introduced into Tibetan Buddhism in the seventh century, Tara has become by far the most popular deity in Tibet ever since.

She is a female bodhisattva (a "wisdom being" or enlightened one") and a meditation deity, believed to have been born from the compassionate tear of Avalokiteshvara (from the Sanskrit, literally: "Lord who looks down", a bodhisattva who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas.) She vowed to remain in female form until all beings were liberated.

Of all the Taras, the two most important are White Tara and Green Tara, who is known as the Buddha of enlightened activity and the great liberator. Green Tara is the most dynamic emanation of Tara. She is known to be moderately combative and often called upon to overcome obstacles.

Green Tara (Khadiravani) is also called the "Mother of All Buddhas", and is appealed to for help in protecting against fear and the Eight Great Dangers: lions ( pride), wild elephants ( delusion/ignorance), fires ( hatred and anger), snakes ( jealousy), bandits and thieves ( wrong views, including fanatical views), bondage ( avarice and miserliness), floods ( desire and attachment), and evil spirits and demons ( deluded doubts). Her nature is one of active compassion; she is known for helping those in need with lightning quickness.

The photos give a good idea of the beauty and excellence of this extraordinary example of Tibetan Sacred Art. If you should have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

And thanks for looking.

Provenance.

From the estate of a gentleman employed by the US State Department who was posted to Southeast Asia. I understand that he acquired this figure and a good deal of others in Bangkok in the early years of the last century.

Due to limitations of photography and the inevitable differences in monitor settings, the color of the pictures may be slightly different on your monitor from Tara herself, but I did my best to capture her as she is. And, at least on my monitor, the color is a very good match.  

A MESSAGE TO MY CLIENTS:

I have recently become disabled with lymphoma in my spinal column and my right hand/arm paralyzed, the two bones of which  I broke in a terrible fall a few weeks ago.

This is slowing me down a bit, especially the packing up.

But I am trying to do my best.

I do manage to get most items off in the four day handling time that I specify   

I  should also apologize for not being able to make the elegant packages I used to make. My hand just won't obey.

I am trying, but I am absolutely alone, which adds to the difficulty.

When I get one-handed packing down perfectly, I shall add it to my resume.