In Nepalese art, Kubera, the god of wealth
and
food, is sometimes shown riding on a snow-
lion,
or in Vaishravan yab-yum position with his
consort. Among statues of Kubera seated in
royal
ease, this finely cast bronze statue stands
unique, as it incorporates elements of
medieval
Eastern Indian with the Newari tradition of the
Katmandu Buddhist art tradition and design
motifs.
Nepal is a country at the crossroads between
India and Tibet and thus the forms of worship
found there contain elements of Indian Vedic
and
Tantric Hinduism as well as Tibetan Buddhism
and Tibetan Bon (animism). In the style
typical of
Tibetan and Nepalese tantric iconography,
they
are all wearing elaborate pointed crowns and
displaying their open third eyes.
Following such tradition, this small figurine of
Kubera, featuring an ornate head-dress, fully
endorsed with conch shells (a symbol of
prosperous voyage), is portrayed seated in
lalitasana on a lotus throne, his right leg bent
upwards, his right hand holding a conch shell,
and his left resting on what could be a Nakula
Mongoose (which believed to be the
receptacle of
all riches).
The commanding presence of this statue of
Kubera befits his role as the emanation of
Vaisravana Dharmarpala, the Lord of Wealth
and
Guardian Deity of the North. He is the most
important deity among the eight generals of
Vaisravana. The statue is sealed with a
copper
base engraved with a double vajra, an
indication
of a ritual blessing known as "rab gnas", a
consecrated process which a high ranking
Lama
invites the deity to enter into the completed
image, and the statue is believed to contain
the
actual presence of the deity, the dharmakaya,
or
Truth Body of the Buddha.
