Palden Lhamo – Protectress of Tibet
Palden Lhamo Statue: Palden Lhamo is a wrathful deity considered to be the principal protrectress of Tibet and its government. She is the only female of the eight great Dharmapalas, or Dharma Protectors, sworn to defend the teaching of Buddha and its sincere practitioners. She is a consort of Mahakala and is considered to be especially potent and powerful. She is celebrated and revered throughout Tibet and Mongolia, and is considered to be the personal protector of the reincarnation lineage of the Dalai Lamas.
Gestures and Attributes
Palden Lhamo is depicted crossing a sea of blood riding side-saddle on a wild mule like shown in this Palden Lhamo Statue. She has three eyes, symbolizing her omniscient knowledge of past, present and future. Her mule also has a third eye on its left haunch, which augments the goddess’s power to see and watch over Buddhist institutions and practitioners. According to legend, Palden Lhamo’s original husband, the king of Sri Lanka, persisted in engaging in practices of human sacrifice despite the goddess’s strenuous objections. In protest, she killed their son and then attempted to flee on the back of the mule, with her son’s flayed skin draped over the back of the beast. The king hit the mule with an arrow as they galloped away, but Palden Lhamo magically transformed the mule’s wound into an eye.
In her right hand she brandishes a demon-taming staff. Her left hand contains a skull cup brimming with blood and brains, symbolizing her enlightened wisdom and victory over the forces of death. She wears a crown adorned with five human skulls, indicating her transformation of the five poisons into the five transcendent wisdoms. And she is surrounded by a blazing fire, emphasizing her power and ferocity in her mission to dispel evil and harmful forces.
About this Palden Lhamo Statue
This fine quality statue is a beautiful representation of the Palden Lhamo. Expertly sculpted from copper alloy using lost wax method and gilded with 24 karat gold, the statue has been finely carved and hand face painted. This Palden Lhamo Statue was individually handcrafted in Patan, Nepal by master artisans of the Shakya clan who are considered among the best in the world. These craftsmen are the modern heirs to a centuries-old tradition of creating sacred art for use in temples and monasteries. The fine metalworking techniques have been passed down from generation to generation since ancient times.
