.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
The present bronze as well as the next lot depicting Milarepa (1040-1123) are from the same series of early teachers of the Kagyu tradition in Tibet. Therefore it is not excluded that this image represents Naropa (c .956-1040) although normally he is depicted with a kapala in his left hand which is here missing. Still this figure comes closest in iconography to him but unfortunate can not be identified for sure. The Kagyu lineage was founded by Tilopa (928-1009).
After being the abbot of the Buddhist Nalanda university in Northern India Naropa searched for the master Tilopa to receive his teachings. He became his disciple for more than thirty years. In between he had several students himself. Amongst these was Marpa ((c.1010-1097) who in turn had Milarepa as pupil. Naropa passed away at his hermitage in the Pullahari mountains. His bones and kapala were brought to Tibet as relics by the Indian teacher Atisha.
After being the abbot of the Buddhist Nalanda university in Northern India Naropa searched for the master Tilopa to receive his teachings. He became his disciple for more than thirty years. In between he had several students himself. Amongst these was Marpa ((c.1010-1097) who in turn had Milarepa as pupil. Naropa passed away at his hermitage in the Pullahari mountains. His bones and kapala were brought to Tibet as relics by the Indian teacher Atisha.