A TIBETO-CHINESE GILT-BRONZE SCULPTURE OF KURUKULLA

18TH CENTURY

Depicting the goddess with one face and four arms, adorned with five skulls to her crown and a garland of heads, she wears a tiger skin around her waist and tramples a prostrate figure that symbolises false perceptions, which prevent people from reaching a state of enlightenment, all raised on a finely cast lotus throne, 16.5cm, 887g. (2)

Kurukulla is the patron of magic and healing. She is believed to be able to charm and bewitch people in order to gain power over them. She is venerated in Tibet as the goddess of love and is depicted as a beautiful sixteen year old girl. Tibetans consider her to be the Red Tara, Doma Marpo, and in their prayers ask the goddess to conquer evil spirits, demons and adverse forces.