Dvarapala Carved in the Japanese Edo Style. A Buddhist guardian figure on a stand, hands in the welcoming mudra. 

Condition: Commensurate with age. 

Size: 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 x 11 in. 

#2300 . 

A Dvarapala or Dvarapalaka (Sanskrit for “door guard”) is a door or gate guardian often portrayed as a warrior or fearsome giant, usually armed with a weapon - the most common being the gada (mace). The dvarapala statue is a widespread architectural element throughout Hindu, Buddhist, and Jaina cultures, as well as in areas influenced by them like Java. Dvarapalas as an architectural feature have their origin in tutelary deities, like Yaksha, and warrior figures, such as Acala. Today some modern dvarapalas are even figures of policemen or soldiers standing guard, influenced by the colonial Western presence in most Asian countries beginning in the 19th Century. These statues were traditionally placed outside Hindu temples or Buddhist temples, as well as other structures like royal palaces, to protect the holy places inside. Depending on the size and wealth of the temple, the guardians could be placed singly, in pairs, or in larger groups. In some cases they are used for welcoming, rather than guarding, such as when a figure presses their hands together in the Namaskara mudra, the most basic Buddhist gesture of greeting, prayer, and adoration. Most, however, are explicitly used to indicate to visitors (or invaders) that the home, temple, or business is protected against evil and unwanted influence.

Commensurate with age.