Vintage bronze thogchag pendant Three Bodhisattva

Vintage bronze pendant with the depiction of the three 'Great Bodhisattva's'; the three bodhisattva's that are the nearest companions of Gautama Buddha and embody the three main focuses of the Buddhist practice; principles and qualities that we need to activate and cultivate in our life when walking the path to enlightenment. In this trinity, Vajrapani respresents the Power of Buddha, Avalokiteshvara the Compassion and Manjushri the Wisdom.

Being not only the Buddha's nearest companions, but also the greatest protectors ('dharmapala') of his teachings, they all have both peaceful and wrathful manifestations.

Underneath the Three Bodhisattva, the mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum" can be read, the most recited mantra in Tibetan Buddhism. And also one of the most ancient ones; with a (for now) first known mentioning on Tibetan script somewhere in the 5th century. This mantra invokes the boddhisattva Avalokiteshvara. It calls upon the Jewel ('Mani') in the Lotus Flower ('Padme'); the Buddha nature that is the true core essence of all people, but is often hidden deep in our heart beneath many layers. These layers are symbolised by the petals of the lotus flower (which represents the human heart), which need to be opened to be able to live fully from a heart of compassion; this is what is symbolised by the Buddha (the one who has accomplished just that) sitting on the opened lotus flower (the heart completely filled with compassion.

This bronze pendant comes from Tibet and is made to resemble an ancient 'thogchag' (or 'thokcha'). Thogchags are small metal objects, worn as amulets. Their history can be dated back thousands of years and the real thogchags are said to be made of meteorite iron (or at least a metal alloy which also includes meteorite iron) and have fallen from the sky or magically produced when a thunderbolt strikes the earth. 

Thogchags can be made in several forms and often depict tantric deities, mythological or real animals or ancient symbols. Also ritual attributes such as phurba's or dorje's can often be found and even more daily, practical attributes such as arrowheads, fibulae and pieces of horse equipment. They often are very abstract in their depictions, which for really old pieces of course further increases by being worn out into smooth surfaces and gaining a distinct patina.

Real ancient thogchags are of course highly sought after and can be extremely expensive. So of course in more recent times also many 'new' thogchags are made, resembling the style and depictions of the old ones.

This Three Boddhisattva pendant here in our shop is such a recently made thogchag, though the term 'recent' might not be completely adequate, because this pendant also has quite some years of age to it already. It might not be antique, but it is certainly of some respectable age already and has gained some nice patina over time.

Size is approximately 47 millimeters wide and 40 millimeters high. Weight is 26 grams.

Only one available.