I’ve just returned from my buying trip, which included my final stop in Indonesia where I found myself captivated by the rows of moss-covered stone statues amidst the thick air left behind by the previous night’s rain. I couldn’t help but fall in love with these beautiful sculptures every time I laid eyes on them, and my weakness for their allure led me to purchase not one but two 40-foot containers full of them. These exquisite stone statues are set to arrive just in time for the spring gardening season in April-May.
Nyoman and I have been collaborating since 2004. His exceptional talent is immediately apparent in the delicate and fluid lines he carves into his Buddha statues, as exemplified by the plump and content Buddha he’s currently holding. The expression on the statue’s face is unlike anything else you’ll find in the Indonesian market, and to top it off, the Buddha is even holding a cup of coffee!
As an art enthusiast, I’m always on the lookout for artists who possess the ability to create something truly distinctive with a style that’s unmistakably their own.
For 19 years, I’ve had the pleasure of working with Wayan Sabur and his son. Whenever I step into their workshop, I’m always greeted by Wayan’s warm and welcoming smile, which reflects his joyous outlook on life. He takes each day as it comes and truly enjoys every moment.
Despite the different perception of time in Indonesia, I’ve often commissioned custom orders with Wayan, only to return the next year to find them partially completed.
One of his remarkable creations is a stunning Buddha standing on a blooming lotus. The intricate carving of the Buddha’s robes is exceptional, resembling the undulating waves of the ocean more than traditional cloth. This design is so unique that I always purchase every statue he creates in this style.
Artists like Wayan used to be more common in Indonesia, but their time is dwindling. Thankfully, his son is ready to continue his father’s legacy by carrying on his designs and artistry into the next generation.
What do you think of these doors? Teak wood doors. Should Lotus Sculpture start importing them?
What do you think of this teak wood root decorative piece? It will be polished and cleaned up. It is unique in that it is just fine outdoors as well as indoors. It is monstrous too with a size of 8 feet by 8 feet. It is one of those unique pieces that you just do not see anymore.
I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Echo for around 15 years. He works at a stone workshop and is a true character, as evidenced by his mischievous grin and playful demeanor, as seen in the photo of him holding his dentures.
Echo is like a large feline in his approach to work – he only works when he needs money and takes days off to rest and relax when his pockets are full. His lifestyle has earned him the nickname “Sultan Echo” since he lives like a sultan, sleeping when he’s satisfied and only working when he has to.
Personally, I love his approach to life. What a fantastic way to live – enjoying the fruits of your labor and only working when necessary!
I have been wanting to go to the famous Buddhist temple of Borobudur and the Hindu temple of Prambanan since my backpacking days. I have seen the temples in Bagan, Burma, and Angkor Wat in Cambodia and this was the last piece to the 3 sacred, must-see, sights of South East Asia. Needless to say, I was not disappointed!
Wandering around Prambanan I was like a kid in a candy store. I started off in the furthest, least impressive temple. It is my philosophy when seeing temples to always start at the least impressive first and build your way to the most impressive. This way you don’t start off with amazing and then just get disappointed with seeing everything else. (I think the reverse is true with food. I always start with the best and work my way to the worst). I love the feeling of an abandoned ruin. Walking alone up the steps and through the narrow temple doors you feel like you are the first person to step foot into the temple for the past 500 years, Marco Polo made a discovery for the world. It is an amazing feeling that only lasts until some tourist in sneakers comes into your picture frame when you are looking for that perfect shot! But the feeling is there…you are an explorer!
A magnetic Ganesha statue I fell in love with inside one of the temples of Prambanan
I am a huge Pink Floyd fan. They have a famous live recording of them playing in the ruins of Pompei, Italy. Walking around Prambanan that first day I had the soundtrack to this playing in my mind…..I could literally hear Richard Wright belting out the crescendo in the epic song, Echoes as I climbed over the rocks and surveyed the temple!
Sunrise bathing Borobudur temple in its misty, pink glow. After 25 years of wanting to go, I finally laid eyes on it!
The next day I woke up at 4 am to catch the sunrise peak over the horizon and bask in its light on the Buddhist temple of Borobudur. It was amazing! The whole complex is set up like a mandala (a Buddhist depiction of the universe) with a huge stupa in the middle with 18 huge stupas surrounding it. The stupas were enormous and impressive, each containing a Buddha statue inside the stupa. There were 4 levels to the temple, each containing a story from either the Buddha’s life or the Ramayana epic. The carvings were all absolute masterpieces. Â
It is an amazing thing when you get to experience something that you have been waiting for for over 25 years! It is good to know that there is still some adventure out there, you just have to get out there and discover it!
We have just received a new shipment of our hand made, panchaloha, lost wax method, bronze cast in South India as well as brass statues hand crafted in North India. Our stocks were getting low so we are so happy to have more statues to offer you!
They will be posted in the coming weeks and months as we slowly unpack them and post them on the website.
Here are 15 of the most popular Saraswati mantras that are widely used by students to score high in exams. It is believed that students, who after working hard failed to succeed in exams and these mantras, have helped them to attain their goal.
The Hindu Goddess Saraswati is known as the mother of Vedas and of knowledge, music, craft, wisdom, arts, and auspiciousness. It is believed that appeasing Saraswati by chanting Saraswati mantras will remove all the obstacles that one will encounter during his or her career or education. Saraswati is known by different names, such as Vak Devi, the goddess of speech, and Sakala Kaladhistatri, goddess bestowing all the arts.
1. Bija Mantra of Saraswati
Aum
Aing Saraswathye Namah
Aum
Meaning: Salutations to Goddess Saraswati
2. Vidya Saraswati Mantra for students: This sloka is found to improve memory, power and concentration in studies.
Saraswati Namasthubhyam
Varade Kamarupini
Vidhyarambam Karishyami
Siddhir Bavathume Sadha
3. Saraswati Vandana
Yaa Kundendu tushaara haaradhavalaa,
Yaa shubhravastraavritha
Yaa veenavara dandamanditakara,
aa shwetha padmaasana
Yaa brahmaachyutha shankara
prabhritibhir Devaisadaa Vanditha
Saa Maam Paatu Saraswatee
Bhagavatee Nihshesha jaadyaapahaa
Meaning: May the Goddess Saraswati protect me. She is fair like the jasmine-colored moon, and whose pure white garland is like frosty dew drops. She is adorned in radiant white attire, on whose beautiful armrests the veena, and whose throne is a white lotus. She is surrounded and respected by the Gods. Please remove my weariness, sluggishness, and ignorance.
Meaning: I plead to Goddess Saraswati who is fair in color, the first and foremost divine energy, who is present in the world in the form of knowledge, who wields a Veena, Vedas, Sfatik rosary in her hands and one of whose hands is raised in blessing. She is the one who is capable of eliminating ignorance and bestow intelligence.
6. Maha Saraswati Mantra: This simple mantra is mainly used by students to make learning easy.
Om Aim Hrim
Kleem Maha Saraswati Devaya
Namaha
7. Saraswati Mantra to recite before study
Saraswathi Namasthubhyam,
Varadey Kaamarupinee
Vidhyarambham Karishyami,
Sidhir bhavathu mey sada
Meaning: O, Goddess Saraswati, my humble prostrations unto Thee. She is capable of fulfilling all my wishes. I request you to bestow thy blessings on me, before I start my studies.
8. Saraswati Mantra for Success in Education and Career
Om
Vageeshwaryae Vidmahe Vagwadeenyae
Dhimahe Tannah Saraswati Prachodayat
This mantra is also known as Gayathri of Saraswati
9. Saraswati Mantra
Saraswati Mahabhage
Vidye Kamalalochane
Vishwaroope Vishaalaakshi
Vidyam dehi namosthuthe
Meaning: Oh great Goddess Saraswati, the lotus-eyed personified knowledge. Oh, I request you to shower me with all the powers and glories of all knowledge that exist. She has large eyes, taking the form of the whole universe.
10. Saraswati Mantra for Acquiring Knowledge
Vad Vad Vaagwaadinee Swaha
11. Saraswati Mantra for Enhancing Intelligence
Om
Aing Hreeng Shreeng
Vaagdevyai Saraswatyai Namah
12. Saraswati Mantra for Wealth and Knowledge
Om
Arham Mukha Kamal Vaasinee
Paapaatma Kshayam Kaari
Vad Vad Vaagwaadinee Saraswati
Aing Hreeng Namah Swaaha
13. Saraswati Ashtakshara Mantra: This mantra comprises of the 12 names of Goddess Saraswati and it is advised that all knowledge seekers should practice it, to gain high and pure knowledge.
Pratham Bharti naam
Dwitaya tu Saraswati
Trutiya Sharda Devi
Chaturth Hansavahini
Pancham Jagatikhayata
Shasth Maheshwari tatha
Saptham tu Kaumari
Astham Bhramacharini
Navam Vidhyadhatrini l Dasham Vardayini
Ekadasham Rudraghanta
Dwadasham Bhuneshwari
Atani Dwadsho Naamami
Y Patcchrnuyaadpi
Nach Vidhna Bhav Taysa Mantra Siddhiker Tatha
14. Mantra for Knowledge: Reciting this mantra will increase the mental capability and will considerably increase the knowledge gain.
Om
Namo Bhagwati Saraswati Parmeshwari
Vaagvaadini Mam Vidhya Dehi Bhagwati
Bhans Vaahini Hans Samarudha Buddhi
Dehi Dehi Pragya Dehi Dehi
Vidhya Parmeshwari Saraswati Swaha
15. Mantra for illumination: This mantra is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati to illuminate the minds of knowledge seekers.
Maho
Arnah Saraswati Pracheyati Ketuna,
Dhiyo Vishwa Virajati
View All Our Mantras to Hindu Gods including English and Sanskrit translations
The Hindu God Ganesha is considered to be the master of wisdom, guardian of knowledge and obstacle remover. All the devotees invoke prayers in favor of Ganesha to bring in positive energy to them and favorable results to their ventures. The Ganesha mantras are also known as Siddhi Mantras. Ganesha is known in different forms and by a number of names, and some of the names are Ganapati, Vignesha, Pillayar, Vinayak, Ekadenta, Lambodara, Gajanana.
Ganesh is usually depicted colored red; he is pot bellied, has one tusk broken, and has four arms that may hold a noose called a pasam, an elephant goad, and a pot of rice, or his favorite sweets, laddus. His appetite for these sweets is legendary and offerings of them are often left at his shrine.
Ganesh is also patron of letters and of learning; he is the legendary scribe who, using his commonly held broken tusk, wrote down parts of the Mahabharata Epic.
Here, are some of the most popular mantras of Lord Ganesha, which are used to please Him.
1. Ganesha Dwaadasha Nama shlokam:
This prayer mentions the 12 names of the Lord Ganesha. These verses are believed to be recited by Sage Narada in order to please Lord Ganesha.
“Pranamya Shirasa Devam Gauriputram Vinaayakam Bhakataavaas am Smare Nityam Aayush Kaamartha Siddhaye”
Meaning: Salutations to the Lord, who is the son of Gowri, and He who resides deep in the heart of the devotees, blessing them always with good health and prosperity.
Meaning: This stanza marks the beginning of twelve names. First as the Lord with the curved trunk; Second as the one with only one tusk, Third as the one with black (red/brown) eyes, Fourth as the one with giant structure
Meaning: Fifth, as the one with a big (long) stomach, Sixth, as the one with a huge body, Seven, as the remover of obstacles, Eighth, as the one with smoke gray color
“Navamam Phaalachandram ChaDasamam Tu Vinaayakam Ekaadasam Ganapatim Dvaadasam Tu Gajaananam“
Meaning: Ninth, as the one with the moon on the front of His head, Tenth, as the foremost leader, Eleventh, as the leader of the ganas, Twelfth as the one with elephant face
“Dvaadasaitaani Naamaani Trisandhyam Yah Pathernnarah Na Cha Vighna Bhayam TasyaSarva Siddhikaram Prabho“
If a person remembers these twelve names of the Lord Ganesha, three times in a day. Then he will have all his obstacles and fear removed and will attain success.
2. GanaNayaka Ashtakam:
This mantra contains eight verses or hymns for invoking Lord Ganesha.
“Ekadantam Mahaakaayam Taptakaajnchana sannibham LambodaraM VishaalaaxaM Vande Ham GaNanaayakam“
Meaning: You are one tusked, have a huge, massive and a hot-golden colored body. You have a large pot like belly, beautiful eyes. I bow to you the leader of ganas (followers of Lord Shiva
“Mounji Krishnajeenadharam NaagaYagnopaveethanam Bhalendu Sakalam Moulim Vande Ham Gananayakam“
Meaning: You are the one who is victorious and has the smoke-hued color body and who uses snake as a holy thread that is tied around the belly. The one who has a waxing moon on his head, I bow to you the leader of the ganas.
“Chitraratna Vichitragam Chitrmaalaa Vibhushitham Kamarupadharam Devam Vande Ham Gananayakam“
Meaning: The one who makes a picture-perfect pose. He has a garland adorning around his neck and takes the form of Kama Roop. I bow to you the leader of ganas.
“Gajavaktam SuraSreshtam Karnachamara Bhushitham Pasamkusadharam Devam Vande Ham Gananayakam“
Meaning: The one with an elephant face and still considered the best. He is beautifully adorned with karnchamra. He holds Pashan and Kusha, weapons used in war. I bow to the leader of the ganas.
“Mushikootham maaruhya Devasura Mahaahavey Yooddukamam Mahaaveeram Vande Ham Gananayakam“
Meaning: He uses mooshika as his chariot, the one who is prayed by everyone and the one who is an exceptionally valiant. I bow to that Lord Ganesha.
Meaning: The one to whom yaksha, kinnera and gandharva pray. He is the only one who has the vidya to acquire opulence, and whose prayers are sung by people. He who has strong arms, I bow to the leader of the ganas.
“Ambika Hryudayanandham Matrubhihi Pariveshtitham BhaktaPriyam Madhoonmatham Vande Ham Gananayakam“
Meaning: He is the one who is dear to the mother, who is always ready to serve his mother anytime, who is dear to his devotees and who ends the wars; I bow to the leader of the ganas.
“SarvaVignaharam Devam SarvaVigna Vivarjetham Sarvasiddi Pradhataaram Vande Ham Gananayakam“
Meaning: He is the Lord who can take care of all our problems, who weakens all the obstacles and problems that come our way to success and the one who gives all types of Siddhi. I bow to the leader of the ganas.
Meaning: This GanAshtakam gives the virtue to those who read it with devotion. This Ashtakam proves beneficial to those who read it, as it makes the person intelligent and wealthy.
“Om gam ganapathi namaha“
Meaning: Om –Salutations to the Lord. Gam — the secret power sound of Ganesh and is known as His bija mantra. Ganapathi — Another name of Ganesh Namaha – I bow to you, my Lord.
For a limited time we are offering free UPS Ground shipping on all orders within the 48 States. International customers will receive a 40% discount off the price of shipping. This discount will be extended to our Canadian customers as well!
Items weighing over 150 pounds including packing materials will be shipped using a freight service. Domestic Freight will be discounted by 35%!
