BHUTAN, 18TH CENTURY

Jetsun Milarepa (1052-1135) is among the most famous yogis of Tibet and renowned for his heroic and archetypal quest for ultimate liberation. Born in the Gungthang region of Western Tibet, near Nepal, Milarepa experienced a challenging early life and a tumultuous youth. He lost his father at the age of seven, after which his family's property was seized by relatives who then mistreated them. Driven by bitterness, his mother sent Milarepa to learn black magic to seek revenge against those who had wronged them. Milarepa became proficient in these dark arts, causing widespread destruction and suffering. Eventually, Milarepa regretted his actions and sought to atone for the negative karma he had accumulated. He initially sought guidance from Nyingmapa Lama Rongton, who recognized Milarepa's karmic connection to Marpa anddirected him to become Marpa's disciple. Marpa, understanding the need for Milarepa to cleanse his negative karma, subjected him to a rigorous and demanding apprenticeship. This included constructing and then dismantling rock towers by hand, according to Marpa’s exacting standards. After enduring these trials, Marpa transmitted the complete Mahamudra teachings to Milarepa, teachings that originated from Indian masters such as Naropa and Maitripa. Milarepa dedicated many years to practicing these teachings in solitary mountain retreats, where he achieved enlightenment. He became renowned for his unwavering commitment to his practice and for his spontaneous songs of enlightenment.
Milarepa, his name literally translating to “the cotton-clad one,” was renowned for wearing only a simple white cotton shawl. In the present sculpture, he cups a hand to his ear—a gesture typical of singers in India and the Himalayas—to enhance his hearing while blocking out extraneous noise. This symbolizes both his reception of the secret tantra teachings from the lineage of Marpa, which, in turn, Milarepa expressed to his followers in his spontaneous songs of enlightenment. The thin cotton shawl draped over the left shoulder reveals his meditation belt slung on his right shoulder.
Milarepa’s face is painted gold and his hair in lapis according to the Tibetan consecration rites. The modeling of the folds of his cotton shawl is extremely fine and realistic, and Milarepa is seated in a relaxed posture on a lotus seat. The three-lobed lotus petals on the base suggest a Bhutanese origin in the 18th century. Compare the lotus base and highly modeled folds of his robes with a related gilt-bronze sculpture of Milarepa in the collection of the Tibet House Museum in New Delhi, item number 51174 on the Huntington Archive. The similarities between two statues suggest that they are made by the same atelier, or closely related workshops.