142 - STANDING STONE VAJRAPANI NEPAL 18TH CENTURY

STANDING STONE VAJRAPANI NEPAL 18TH CENTURY Dimensions: Height 36 cm Wide 18 cm Depth 6 cm Weight: 6.319 grams Carved in relief within a pointed stone stele, Vajrapani stands frontally in a powerful, compact pose. The deity is crowned and heavily ornamented, with large earrings, necklaces and patterned garments; one raised hand holds the vajra, the thunderbolt sceptre from which his name derives. A flame-like border follows the arched outline and visually intensifies the figure's protective character. Vajrapani embodies the power of enlightened mind and is one of the great protective figures of Buddhism. In Himalayan art his appearance can range from calm bodhisattva to forceful guardian, but the vajra remains his defining emblem. Here the broad stance and concentrated frontal composition give the deity an imposing presence despite the relatively shallow relief. Weathering and softened edges are visible across the stone, lending the image a strongly aged surface.