Hand Made Copper Alloy with 24 Karat Gold Gilded 9" Aparmita Shakti Statue

Aparmita Shakti Statue

 Aparmita – The Buddha of Infinite Life

Aparmita (also called Amitayus) is the name of Buddha Amitabha in his Bestower of Longevity aspect. He may be regarded as either a celestial Buddha or a fully realized Bodhisattva, having attained Buddhahood many eons ago as a result of his infinite merit accumulated over countless past lives as a Bodhisattva. According to the Larger Sutra of Immeasurable Life, Aparmita, through the power of his good deeds, created a pure heavenly realm where he now dwells along with his innumerable divine disciples, enjoying boundless and endless life. He promises that if any faithful man or woman calls upon him at the moment of death, he will appear, together with a multitude of blessed sages, and deliver the dying person to his Pure Land where they will live in the light of the Dharma, free from suffering and death.

Gestures and Attributes

Aparmita sits in perfect equanimity with his hands in Dhyana Mudra, the gesture of meditation. Both of his palms lie face up in his lap where they hold the ambrosia treasure vase that is his special emblem. His right hand, resting on top, symbolizes the state of enlightenment, while his left hand, resting below, represents the world of appearance. Thus, Aparmita's posture expresses his mastery over the world of appearance through enlightenment and signifies the enlightened state of mind for which samsara and nirvana are one. His vase contains amrita, the elixir of awakening and immortality, and is adorned with leaves of Ashoka, a sacred flowering tree. This vase, along with its contents and adornments, symbolizes Aparmita's compassionate gift of a long life free from sickness and suffering.

Iconography

Aparmita sits in perfect equanimity with his hands in Dhyana Mudra, the gesture of meditation. Both of his palms lie face up in his lap where they hold the ambrosia treasure vase that is his special emblem. His right hand, resting on top, symbolizes the state of enlightenment, while his left hand, resting below, represents the world of appearance. Thus, Aparmita's posture expresses his mastery over the world of appearance through enlightenment and signifies the enlightened state of mind for which samsara and nirvana are one. His vase contains amrita, the elixir of wakening and immortality, and is adorned with leaves of Ashoka, a sacred flowering tree. This vase, along with its contents and adornments, symbolizes Aparmita's compassionate gift of a long life free from sickness and suffering.

Here Aparmita is shown in his popular posture with his Consort. Aparmita is seated like Buddha and his hands lie on his lap in Dhyana Mudra holding the ambrosia vase, his special emblem. The vase is richly decorated and from the cover fall four strings of beads which represent sacred pills. Aparmita wears the thirteen ornaments and his hair is painted blue and falls on either side to his elbows or may be curiously coiled.

About this Sculpture

Crafted with precision and reverence, this statue beautifully depicts Aparmita with his consort, radiating divine grace. Fashioned from copper alloy using the revered lost wax method, it is adorned with a gilding of 24-karat gold and a meticulously hand-painted face, infusing it with celestial luminance. The intricate hand-painted face adds a touch of divine beauty to the sculpture. With a subtle red hue adorning the robes and base, the Buddhist theme is elegantly preserved, enhancing its aesthetic appeal. Individually handcrafted in Patan, Nepal, by master artisans of the illustrious Shakya clan, this sculpture stands as a testament to centuries-old traditions of sacred artistry. These skilled craftsmen, revered as among the world's finest, proudly carry forth the ancient metalworking techniques passed down through generations, ensuring the preservation of this revered craft for future generations to cherish and admire.