**First Time At Auction**

Central Asia, Himalaya region, Nepal / Tibet, ca. 18th to 19th century CE. A fabulous cast-brass statue of the wrathful deity known as a Heruka manifesting as Yab Yum with the female deity Vajravarahi. Yab-yum, literally meaning "man-woman," is the portrayal of the tantric sexual embrace between male and female divinities and represents the pacification of spiritual polarities. Yab Yum has 6 arms and 3 heads which represents Brahma. Both he and his consort are dressed in finery, wearing jewelry, crowns, and elaborate costumes, and holding implements such as varja, phurba, and kartika - in their hands. They stand upon 2 prone figures atop a pedestal, the underside of the base is sealed with a copper panel. The flaming areola halo behind is cast seperately and removable, a winged garuda is surmounted at the top. Size: 8" L x 4" W x 11.75" H (20.3 cm x 10.2 cm x 29.8 cm)

Herukas are wrathful deities assuming savage phenotypes in order to protect Buddhism from threatening enemies. The form of Yab-Yum, literally "father-mother" is a popular symbol in Indian, Bhutanese, Tibetan, and Nepalese Buddhism to represent the male (compassion and skillful means) in sexual union with the female (wisdom and insight). The Heruka depicted presents traditional attributes of wrathful deities including a headdress with skeletal death heads, a macabre variant of a crown with five flower petals to indicate the five dhyani buddhas used for more peaceful deities. The prone and nude figures being trampled represent overcoming ignorance and evil.

Provenance: private Hawaii collection, acquired 2000 to 2010; ex-private old German collection

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#177494

Green and white oxidation and patina on the head and shoulder area. Halo arch is fully removable. Chipping and abrasions to surface and high pointed areas. Dark patina / toning as shown. Overall good condition.