Potala Palace: Four-Armed Tara

CHINA, Tibet, Lhasa

This copper sculpture, made between the 17th and 18th centuries, is in Kashmiri style. The gilded face has painted features, above which a flowery crown studded with the same turquoises that adorn the rest of the jewelry. Below her nude upper body she wears a skirt enameled with a floral pattern. This is the four-armed wealth-giving form of Green Tara. The arms above her head overlap and carry an elephant goad. The principal right hand is opened in varada (wish-granting) mudra while the left hand clasps the stem of a blue lotus on which balances a scripture. Another lotus bearing only buds rises to shoulder height on the right side. Tara sits in half lotus position on a gilt-winged and necklaced goose that turns its head to look back at her.