ATISHA DIPANKARA Gold Plated Statue 14″

A wonderful copper statue of 14″ ATISHA DIPANKARA statue in fine gold plating finishing.

Atiśa Dipankara (982 – 1052 C.E.), a Buddhist teacher from the Pala Empire who, along with Konchog Gyalpo and Marpa, became one of the major figures in the establishment of the Sarma lineages in Tibet after the repression of Buddhism by King Langdarma (Glang Darma).

Atisha, a Buddhist monk credited with reforming Tibetan Buddhism, had a life similar to Shakyamuni Buddha, although he lived nearly fifteen centuries after Buddha. Born into a royal family in the city of Vikramapura, Southeast Bengal, Atisha’s parents groomed him to inherit the position of emperor from his father. Vikramapura had been one of the early centers of Buddhism, serving as the center for Buddhist culture.

Although Atisha had a lengthy career as a teacher at the Buddhist college, Vikramasila, his life purpose led him to Tibet. After making a dangerous two year journey over the Himalaya mountains to Tibet at an elderly age, Atisha spent the remaining years of his life reviving Tibetan Buddhism. He lived until seventy-two years old, having devoted fifteen years to his work in Tibet, dying in 1052 C.E.