Handmade Filigree Mandala with Manjushri & Garud in the middle, and Gemstones (Turquoise, Coral & Lapis) embellishment.
These beautiful mandalas take over a year to finish. The filigree work is a delicate adornment in which fine, pliable threads of metal are hand twisted or curled into a design and then soldered. As you can see these designs take the shape of gorgeous scroll-work, lacy flourishes, and symmetrical Art-Deco style designs.
In various spiritual traditions, mandalas may be employed as a spiritual guidance tool, for establishing a sacred space and as an aid to meditation and trance induction. But today, the geometric configuration of symbols that make a mandala also make them a beautiful wall hanging for our homes.
Garud is the legendary bird or bird-like creature in Hindu faith. Garud's links to Vishnu – the Hindu god who fights injustice and destroys evil in his various avatars to preserve dharma, has made him an iconic symbol of king's duty and power, an insignia of royalty or dharma. His eagle-like form is shown either alone or with Vishnu, signifying divine approval of the power of the state.
Manjushri is depicted as a male bodhisattva wielding a flaming sword in his right hand, representing the realization of transcendent wisdom which cuts down ignorance and duality. It is believed that he came to Kathmandu (once a lake) on a pilgrimage from Wutaishan, China. He saw a lotus flower in the center of the lake, which emitted brilliant radiance. He cut a gorge at Chovar with his flaming sword to allow the lake to drain. The place where the lotus flower settled became the great Swayambhunath Stupa and the valley thus became habitable.
Brief history of Mandala - As Buddhist monks travelled the Silk Road, they carried mandalas with them and brought the practice of painting these spiritual compositions to other parts of Asia, appearing in regions such as Tibet, China, and Japan by the 4th century. Though rooted in Buddhism, mandalas soon became present in Hinduism and other religious practices. Painters of the spiritual craft were often pious laymen, who were commissioned by a patron.
