A COPPER ALLOY FIGURE OF ACALA


TIBET, 13TH CENTURYHimalayan Art Resources item no.61641 11.5 cm (4 1/2 in.) high
|西藏 十三世紀 不動明王銅像Here, three-eyed Acala steps to the right and firmly anchors his left knee on the lotus base, displaying the strength of the "Immovable One". Two forms of Acala exist in the kneeling posture – the blue-bodied Nila Acala, and the white-bodied Sita Acala. Judging from his mouth, with his fangs biting down on the lower lip, the present figure should be the blue form. Nila Acala is a yidam employed for removing obstacles. He is closely associated with Manjushri. In the raised right hand he brandishes a sword (khadga) to "cut through ignorance", while the left hand displays the gesture of exorcism (karana mudra). The principal source of the kneeling Nila Acala is the Siddhaikavira Tantra, which is primarily concerned with the practices of White Manjushri in the Ekavira form. Several stylistic details – such as the tall lotus base, slim torso, oval face, and tall chignon – resemble Pala period bronze sculptures from Northeast India. Compare to a closely related example in the Alain Bordier Collection, see von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculptures of the Alain Bordier Foundation, Hong Kong, 2010, p.163, no.77. ProvenanceJerome Beagle, 1999