Can you tell me who is depicted in this sculpture?

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Orlando098
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Can you tell me who is depicted in this sculpture?

Post by Orlando098 »

Coincidentally, I see someone else has posted something similar today...

Hello

I have an interest in Buddhism though I remain agnostic at the moment rather than considering myself Buddhist. I've read fairly widely about it over the years and currently often listen to Ajahn Brahm's talks online (not Mahayana or Vajrayana I know), and also have a lot of respect for the Dalai Lama. Due to my interest a relative gave me a piece of Buddhist art as a present, and I am wondering what exactly it depicts.

It looks like the Buddha, but is more elaborate than usual depictions, with a complicated headdress and jewelry etc. Having looked online a little, I wonder, as the features are quite delicate, if it is in fact a depiction of Tara, or if not could it perhaps be the Buddha Maitreya?

It was bought in a market in Afghanistan.

Would be interested in anyone's thoughts

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10889182@N ... hotostream" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10889182@N ... hotostream" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Orlando
Last edited by Orlando098 on Sun Jun 10, 2012 5:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Nicholas Weeks
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Re: Can you tell me who is depicted in this sculpture?

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

Bad Links - try again.
May all seek, find & follow the Path of Buddhas.
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Grigoris
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Re: Can you tell me who is depicted in this sculpture?

Post by Grigoris »

The links are not working for me. Anybody else?
"My religion is not deceiving myself."
Jetsun Milarepa 1052-1135 CE

"Butchers, prostitutes, those guilty of the five most heinous crimes, outcasts, the underprivileged: all are utterly the substance of existence and nothing other than total bliss."
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Orlando098
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Re: Can you tell me who is depicted in this sculpture?

Post by Orlando098 »

Sorry, reposted. They should work now.
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Grigoris
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Re: Can you tell me who is depicted in this sculpture?

Post by Grigoris »

I vote Tara. It's a beautiful piece by the way.
:namaste:
"My religion is not deceiving myself."
Jetsun Milarepa 1052-1135 CE

"Butchers, prostitutes, those guilty of the five most heinous crimes, outcasts, the underprivileged: all are utterly the substance of existence and nothing other than total bliss."
The Supreme Source - The Kunjed Gyalpo
The Fundamental Tantra of Dzogchen Semde
Orlando098
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Re: Can you tell me who is depicted in this sculpture?

Post by Orlando098 »

Thank you :smile: that was what I thought most likely, but I wanted confirmation from people with more experience in the Mahayana/Vajrayana. Yes, I like it, it's a nice present.
uan
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Re: Can you tell me who is depicted in this sculpture?

Post by uan »

Could be Guan Yin.
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dharmagoat
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Re: Can you tell me who is depicted in this sculpture?

Post by dharmagoat »

Exquisite. The third eye indicates that it is probably White Tara.
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Grigoris
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Re: Can you tell me who is depicted in this sculpture?

Post by Grigoris »

uan wrote:Could be Guan Yin.
No way! The style is not Chinese.
:namaste:
"My religion is not deceiving myself."
Jetsun Milarepa 1052-1135 CE

"Butchers, prostitutes, those guilty of the five most heinous crimes, outcasts, the underprivileged: all are utterly the substance of existence and nothing other than total bliss."
The Supreme Source - The Kunjed Gyalpo
The Fundamental Tantra of Dzogchen Semde
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Adamantine
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Re: Can you tell me who is depicted in this sculpture?

Post by Adamantine »

where is the body?
Contentment is the ultimate wealth;
Detachment is the final happiness. ~Sri Saraha
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Grigoris
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Re: Can you tell me who is depicted in this sculpture?

Post by Grigoris »

It's a wall hanging not a statue. They do the Tara heads without the bodies. My Greek lama has a set of twenty-one heads which each head having the different ornaments for each Tara.
:namaste:
"My religion is not deceiving myself."
Jetsun Milarepa 1052-1135 CE

"Butchers, prostitutes, those guilty of the five most heinous crimes, outcasts, the underprivileged: all are utterly the substance of existence and nothing other than total bliss."
The Supreme Source - The Kunjed Gyalpo
The Fundamental Tantra of Dzogchen Semde
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