Handcrafted Statue of Master Tsongkhapa | Founder of the Gelug School
The Handcrafted Statue of Master Tsongkhapa stands 13.2 inches (33.5 cm) tall with a base width of 9.3 inches (23.5 cm) and weighs 4.24 kilograms. It is made of copper. This sculpture, adorned with gemstones and handcrafted by expert Nepalese artisans, elegantly symbolizes the sacred traditions of Himalayan Buddhism, making it an appropriate addition to altars, meditation spaces, or sacred collections.
Tsongkhapa is depicted seated in padmasana atop a moon disc lotus base, symbolizing purity and spiritual awakening. He is the founder of the Gelug school. His hands are positioned in the dhyāna mudrā (meditation gesture), with the right hand resting in the left and thumbs touching, signifying intense meditation and the union of wisdom and method. Tsongkhapa is shown performing the vitarka mudrā (gesture of teaching), which involves raising his right hand while his left hand rests in his lap in the dhyāna mudrā, symbolizing the transmission of Buddhist teachings and the act of debating. In his left hand, placed in dhyāna mudrā, he holds a kalasha (vase), representing the nectar of immortality and spiritual accomplishment. He is seen wearing monastic robes.
Size: 13.2”/33.5cm (Height) x 9.3”/23.5cm (Base)
Weight: 4.24kg
Materials: Copper Body, 24K Gold Gilded, Gold & Acrylic Paintings
Masters Tsongkhapa (1357–1419) was a well-known Tibetan religious philosopher and devoted monastic. He worked for decades compiling and studying Indian Buddhist texts, seeking to restore the purity of the Buddhist teachings. In his famous debates with Bon practitioners, he defended the validity of the Buddhist view. Under his leadership, a group of committed students revived the practice of Lamrim, or the stages of the path to enlightenment, which had been forgotten in Tibet. The founding of Gaden Monastery in 1413 and the establishment of the Gelug school are both directly attributable to his efforts. The Gelugpa tradition, which was dominant in Tibet until the Chinese takeover in 1951, arose from his teachings.
