Portable Tibetan Buddhist Ghau Shrine – The God Vaishravana Riding a Lion

A nice example of a portable Tibetan Buddhist Ghau or Travelling Shrine, typically worn around the neck on journeys, and kept on an alter when at home.

Made from brass and copper it features the warrior Vaisravana, one of four Heavenly Kings, riding a lion and holding a triumphal banner and a mongoose.  Vaisravana is considered an important figure in Buddhism.

The box is handmade in two parts, with the front and back panels and strap-slots in brass, and the rest in copper.  The back pulls off to reveal the contents which might include prayers and small sacred items.  This Ghau contains a paper prayer fragment, but is otherwise empty.  

This interesting and attractive portable shrine is in excellent condition with an aged patina that could easily be removed to reveal the original clean brass and copper surfaces if preferred.  It is one of two Ghau that I recently sourced in an antique shop in Kathmandu, and is best described as vintage or old as its actual age is unknown.