Hand Painted with 24 Karat Gold Gilded and Hand Painted Face 14.5" White Tara / Dholkar Statue

White Tara / Dholkar Statue

 White Tara / Dholkar – The Divine Mother

White Tara's compassion for living beings and her desire to save them from suffering is said to be even stronger than a mother's love for her children. As the personification of enlightened maternal compassion, she has infinite sympathy for those facing the challenges of worldly existence. She is the female aspect of the universe and the source of all life; thus, she lovingly engenders, nourishes, and smiles at the vitality of creation. Meditation on the goddess grants health, long life, fearlessness, patience, and peace; and she is especially cherished for her swiftness in responding to the prayers of those who call upon her. Her color white symbolizes her radiant purity, but white also expresses her fundamental nature, which is the ultimate Truth, complete and undifferentiated.

Gestures and Attributes

White Tara / Dholkar is depicted in a posture of graceful contemplative ease with both legs raised and crossed, displaying regal elegance and serenity. Her right hand is extended downward, palm open, with thumb and index finger touching. This hand position is known as Varada Mudra, or the gesture of granting wishes and protection. Her left hand, raised to shoulder height with fingers extended and palm turned outward, is in the gesture of granting refuge and freeing from fears (Abhaya Mudra). Each of her hands also holds the stem of a beautiful lotus flower that floats above her shoulder as a symbol of her radiant purity and power. A distinctive characteristic of White Tara, shown in this representation, is her seven eyes. She has the two usual eyes plus one in the center of her forehead and one in each of her hands and feet. These eyes indicate that she sees all the suffering and cries for help in the universe and symbolize her divine omniscience.

About this Sculpture

Nestled within the heart of Patan, Nepal, amidst the ancient alleys where tradition intertwines with reverence, emerges a timeless masterpiece crafted by the skilled hands of the Shakya clan's master artisans. Here stands a statue of White Tara, or Dholkar, radiant in her divine grace and exquisite beauty.

Expertly sculpted from lustrous copper alloy through the meticulous lost wax method, this statue embodies a fusion of artistry and spirituality that transcends the ordinary. Gilded with the luminous glow of 24-karat gold and adorned with delicate hand-painted details, each stroke of the brush breathes life into the goddess's serene countenance.

With hands gracefully poised in sacred mudras, White Tara emanates an aura of compassion and enlightenment. Her regal figure adorned with finely carved crown, necklaces, armlets, and anklets speaks to her divine status as a Bodhisattva—a beacon of boundless compassion and wisdom.

Her monastic robes, meticulously carved with intricate flowers and winding vines, symbolize the flourishing of spiritual realization amidst the earthly realm. At her lotus base, adorned with the majestic Vajra and adorned with delicate flora, White Tara sits in tranquil contemplation, embodying the union of strength and grace.

But it is not merely the craftsmanship that renders this sculpture remarkable—it is the spirit of devotion and lineage that infuses every detail. For within the hands of the Shakya clan's artisans resides a legacy spanning generations—a sacred trust passed down from ancient times, preserving the sacred art of temple and monastery adornment.