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Sitatara

Figure
14th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Nepal (made)

White Tara (Sitatara), painted and gilded copper inset with semi-precious stones, turquoise, imitation rubies and lapis lazuli, Nepal, 14th century, Malla period

Object details

Categories
Sculpture
Buddhism
Metalwork
Religion
Object type
Figure
TitleSitatara (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Painted and gilded copper, with semi-precious stones, turquoise, imitation rubies and lapis lazuli
Copper
Turquoise
Lapis Lazuli
Gilded
Painted
Brief description
White Tara (Sitatara), painted and gilded copper inset with semi-precious stones, turquoise, imitation rubies and lapis lazuli, Nepal, 14th century, Malla period
Dimensions
  • Height: 91cm
  • Across hands width: 39.7cm
  • Width: 31.5cm
  • Depth: 16cm
  • Weight: 8kg
Style
Malla
Gallery label
(14/06/2011)
White Tara (Sitatara)
1300–1400
Malla period
Tara was widely worshipped in Nepal and Tibet. Rolled
prayers written in Tibetan found within this image
indicates that it was venerated by Tibetans. The goddess
has the attribute of the lotus above her left shoulder. She
makes the gesture of preaching (vyakhyana mudra) with
her raised hand and holds her other hand in varada mudra,
the wish-granting gesture.
Painted and gilded copper, with semi-precious stones, turquoise,
imitation rubies and lapis lazuli
Nepal
Museum no. IM.239-1927

Credit line
Bequeathed by Lord Curzon of Kedleston
Historical context
The goddess Tara was widely worshipped in Nepal and Tibet. The cult was stimulated by Atisa, the Indian teacher who played a major role in stimulating Buddhism in Tibet in the 11th century. Sitatara, the white Tara has the lotus (padma) attribute and makes the gesture of preaching (vyakhyanamudra) with her raised hand, the other held in varadamudra, the gesture of the granting of wishes. A third eye is indicated on her forehead. This is a mild form of Tara, seen as the female manifestation of Avalokitesvara. Prayers written in Tibetan were found inside the image, indicating that it had been venerated by Tibetans.
Subject depicted
Buddhism
Bibliographic references
  • PUBLISHED, U von Shroeder, Indo-Tibetan Bronzes, 1981, pl.91G
  • Orientations; vol. 40. no. 4; May 2009; The Robert H.N. Ho Family Foundation Gallery, Victoria & Albert Museum. Cam Sharp Jones, Interpreting the Iconography of Tara in Sculptural form. p.66
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
IM.239-1927

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Record createdFebruary 13, 2000
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O24818/sitatara-figure-unknown/
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