GILDED COPPER STATUE OF MAHAKALI

　　明永乐时期（公元1403-1424年）YONGLE REIGN OF THE MING DYNASTY （1403-1424）

　　高20厘米 HEIGH 20CM

　　收藏单位：西藏博物馆 TIBET MUSEUM

　　吉祥天母藏语称为“班丹拉姆”，是藏传佛教各派都能供奉的女护法神，在西藏非常受尊崇。这尊吉祥天母头发成火焰形，头戴五骷髅冠，面庞消瘦，大眼圆睁，形象狰狞。四只手分别持剑、戟、嘎巴拉碗等法器，胸前装饰复杂的璎珞，脖子上挂着用人头和蛇身做成的项链。舒相坐在骡背上，骡子背部系着人皮，腹部长着一只眼，踏行在血海之中。底座刻有“大明永乐年施”款。

　　MAHAKALI IS A FEMALE PROTECTOR DEITY WORSHIPPED IN EVERY SECT OF TIBETAN BUDDHISM AND A HIGHLY RESPECTED DEITY IN TIBET THIS STATUE OF MAHAKALI HAS FLAME-SHAPED HAIR ，WITH A FIVE-HUMAN -SKULL CROWN AND EYES WIDE-OPEN IN A FEROCIOUS LOOK ，THE FOUR ARMS SEPARATELY HOLD SWORD ，TRIDENT ，KAPALA AND OTHER ATTRIBUTES 。HER CHEST IS AKOUNED WITH A BEAUTIFUL ROSARY THE NECKLACE DEPICTS A HUMAN HEAD AND A SERPENT BODY ，MAHAKALI RIDES SIDESADDLE ON THE BACK OF A GALLOPING MULE IN A TURBULENT BLOODY OCEAN 。THE MULE CARRIES A HUMAN SKIN AND A HUMAN HEAD HANGING UPSIDE DOWN ON ONE SIDE ，THERE IS ONE EYE ON THE MULEHIP ，THE INSCRIPTION ON THE BASE READS ，”BESTOWED IN THE YONGLE REIGN OF THE MING DYNASTY。