The
iconography of this jewel like figure is tentatively identified as the Wealth
God Madzin, one of the twelve Jambhalas who dispense riches.
Seated
in royal ease (lalitasna) on two finely incised foliate cushions, his right hand
holding a vajra-chopper, and left a Nakula Mongoose. The small statue of Madzin
is fully gilt in yellow gold, thus imparting a glittering elegance, and evokes
the Jambhala's spiritual force as a deity of wealth. Subsequently, there is an
inscription of Tibetan characters on the back of the statue, and also it is sealed
a with a double vajra engraved on a metal base .These are indications that the
statue has been consecrated with a ritual blessing, known as" rab gnas", a process
in which a high ranking Lama invites the deity to enter into the completed image.
The statue is then believed to contain the actual presence of the deity, the dharmakaya,
or Truth Body of the Buddha.
Although
Jambhala deities are relatively rare outside of Tibet; more extraordinary is the
superb quality of this statue, whcih we believe that it was made in the Imperial
workshop in the 17th - 18th century, likely at around the time of the Kangxi (1662-1722),
and no later than the QianLong Emperor's reign (1736-1795).
