Multicolored 6″ Guru Marpa Statue (24k Gold Gilded)

The world class craftsman in Patan, Nepal hand crafted this Guru Marpa statue. Additionally, the statue features a vibrant multicolored finish and it is partly gilded in 24k gold. Although Guru Marpa Lotsawa was believed to have an angry countenance, the multicolor finish brings a different perspective. Guru Marpa sits in on an animal skin which was the tradition of all Tibetan masters trained in India. Some sources say that Guru Marpa had frightening hair that rose straight up five inches from the top of his head. However, other sources say his hair was flat.

History of Guru Marpa

Our Guru Marpa statue is based on Marpa Lotsawa. He was born in 1012 ACE in southern Tibet to a wealthy family. However, he had little interest in the material world. As a result, he used his entire family inheritance to travel to India and study under the Indian ascetic masters. The most notable Indian master who taught Guru Marpa was Naropa. It is also believed that Marpa studied under Naropa’s disciples, Chitherpa and Chaindapa.

Due to the extensive knowledge he acquired in India, he inherited the Kagyu lineage from Naropa and it would become the Tibetan Kagyu school. Guru Marpa was renown throughout Tibet and acquired many disciples of his own. Most notably, Guru Marpa was the tutor and mentor of Guru Milarepa. Guru Milarepa would eventually become the favorite disciple of Marpa after overcoming many great trials put forth by Marpa. As a result, Guru Milarepa would eventually inherit the Kagyu Tibetan school from Marpa after the death of Marpa’s son.

Additional accolades attributed to Marpa include the title “Marpa the Translator.” This is because Marpa made so many contributions to Tibetan Buddhism by translating the Indian Buddhist teachings. This includes the Dharma teachings of the Buddha which were brought to Tibet and translated by Marpa.