Image title: Milarepa (Tibet, 14th century)

This Copper sculpture shows an image of Milarepa, from the 14th/15th century origination from Nepal.—Materials used: Copper alloy, gilt, cold gold, paint.

Notes: Lamas are depicted wearing monastic robes and sometimes the special hat of their order. They often display attributes and hand poses associated with the particular Buddhist deities they are believed to incarnate.

Revered Historical Persons—Portrait-like images abound in Tibetan Buddhism. These symbolize important personages, including the founders of sects, famous lamas (monks, literally “superiors”), teachers and renowned Tantric adepts (mahasiddhas). Few are real portraits. Some, like Milarepa (1) “The Cotton Clad”, a famed 12th century poet-monk can be recognized by their distinctive iconography. Milarepa is always shown seated with his right hand cupped to his ear as if listening to divine music.

Gallery information:

The Patan Museum is located on the Durbar square of Patan (Lalitpur/Lalitapura, Kathmandu, Nepal) which is associated Keshav Narayan Chowk (Keshavnarayan)—a form of Lord Vishnu. Being listed as a World Heritage Site, the whole of Durbar square is filled with exquisite temples, sculptures and other ancient structures, of which the ancient history history can be traced to the Malla Kings of Lalitpur. It is an important site for both Buddhism and Hinduism.