This exquisite 33cm / 13" Green Tara statue represents the refined artistry of Nepalese master craftsmanship—a skillfully hand-carved pure copper masterwork featuring ancient traditional mineral pigment painting and meticulous facial painting using traditional gold pigment technique.
· Height: 33 cm / 13 inches
· Material: Pure copper with hand-painted mineral pigments and gold-painted facial details
· Style: Green Tara in lalitasana posture with utpala lotus on lotus throne
· Origin: Hand-carved masterwork from Nepal, Kathmandu Valley
· Ideal for: Meditation space, home altar, spiritual art collection, protection practice
Green Tara is the most beloved female deity in Himalayan Buddhist tradition, embodying swift compassion and enlightened activity. As the "Mother of Liberation," she is known for her quick response to prayers, removing obstacles and saving beings from fear and danger. Her green color symbolizes the active, youthful energy of compassion, always ready to arise and help those in need.
Seated in lalitasana—the posture of royal ease—upon a lotus throne, her right leg gracefully extended, symbolizing her readiness to rise and spring into action to protect beings from danger. Her right hand rests on her knee in varada mudra (the gesture of supreme giving), bestowing blessings and fulfilling the wishes of those who call upon her. Her left hand, held gracefully at her heart, cradles the stem of a blue utpala lotus that blossoms at her shoulder, representing purity emerging from the world.
The lotus throne beneath her features layers of individually carved petals—each petal precisely shaped, their tips slightly curled, creating a throne of sacred beauty.
The ancient traditional painting technique used in crafting this piece follows time-honored methods preserved in the Kathmandu Valley for centuries. Natural mineral pigments are carefully ground, mixed, and applied in layers to create exceptional depth and luminosity. Her green body is built up through multiple applications, each layer allowing the rich color to develop its characteristic vibrancy.
Her serene expression is brought to life through the meticulous facial painting using traditional gold pigment technique. The downcast eyes that gaze upon all beings with unconditional love, the gentle smile radiating the warmth of enlightened activity, and the three eyes (including the wisdom eye in her forehead) are rendered with exceptional precision using fine brushwork and gold pigment, creating a luminous quality that draws the viewer into her compassionate presence.
Every element of this hand-carved masterwork reflects dedicated artistry. The elaborate five-jewel crown adorning her head represents the five wisdoms, each jewel rendered with crisp definition and highlighted with painted details. Long silk ribbons cascade from her crown, their delicate folds carved with precision. Long earrings graze her shoulders, symbolizing her balanced awareness of all realms. Elaborate jewelry adorns her form: necklaces, armlets, bracelets, and anklets—all rendered with meticulous attention. Celestial silks drape gracefully over her shoulders, their flowing folds demonstrating mastery of classical techniques.
The utpala lotus at her shoulder is carved with gracefully curling stems, its blossoms opening in perfect symmetry. The three flowers—one in full bloom, one budding, and one ready to open—represent the past, present, and future Buddhas.
According to traditional sources, Green Tara holds a uniquely important position in Buddhist practice. She is considered the "Mother of All Buddhas" and the embodiment of their compassionate activity. Twenty-one forms of Tara are revered in the tradition, with Green Tara as the principal figure from whom all others emanate. Her mantra—"Om Tare Tuttare Ture Svaha"—is recited for protection, healing, and the removal of obstacles on the spiritual path.
For more than a millennium, the Kathmandu Valley has nurtured a living lineage of metal sculptors and painters who have preserved the traditions of ancient lost-wax creation and mineral pigment painting. This 33cm Green Tara masterwork represents that living heritage—a timeless expression of the Mother of Liberation who responds instantly to all who call upon her.
