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Dr.
Premendra Y Verma and family with The Dalai
Lama of Tibet. |
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IMAGE,
IMAGERY & IMAGINATION
Where
does a furniture store end and the art gallery
begin? Is it treasures you seek, or the crafts
you cherish? Is furniture practical, and art held
separate from everyday life? Tucked away in Bangsar
Baru, Sacred Citadel is a gallery
that blurs the line between the practical and
the beautiful. Dr. Premendra Y. Verma, owner,
regularly stocks a fantastic selection of primarily
Tibetan art, crafts, furniture, and more.
Every
item is reminiscent of the ancient ways of the
Lhasa valley - gorgeously carved folding tables,
once one of the meager possessions of wandering
Buddhist monks, evoke their simple lives; raw
silk handmade spreads, prevalent during the age
of the Silk Route (now a freshly revived art known
to very few artisans), unfurl upon the display
beds, their symbolic tiger-eyes staring deeply
into the soul. |
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Thangka
(painted wall hangings), created by the master
artists in 24-Carat gold, betray an age when inspiration
wasn't limited by time and office hours. As the
Buddha looks out at you from its sheer beauty,
the sparkle of his smile and his tranquil gaze
sets you at peace. Each piece is a unique creation
and you may only see a particular Thangka at Sacred
Citadel once in your lifetime. There is an eight-month
waiting period, and even then, it's so rare that
stocking can't be guaranteed.
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Elsewhere,
brightly coloured furniture embodies the traditional
Tibetan culture. Cabinets, made to disassemble,
use no hinges; these were the nomadic furniture
from a sky plateau that time seems to have forgotten.
They're more than beautiful... they're inspirational.
From a past time, they fit perfectly into today's
complex and contemporary lifestyle. The cabinets
of yore are now made to store CDs and DVDs, while
traditional designs of clouds upon lotus flowers
done in pewter frame pictures of grandchildren.
The past, present, and future merge into an outstanding
creation of art.
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the timeless items are brass and bronze statues
of the Buddha, depicting in relief his major life
events; ornamental incense burners, soothing and
focusing a tired soul; jewellery with precious
and semi-precious stones set in silver; gift items
such as scarves, T-shirts with Tibetan motifs,
and gem boxes; also, handmade rugs in colours
made to order - they all reach within, beyond
a spectre of time.
And
then there are items that are today mere curiosities
of the past. There aren't many practical uses
for a 'singing' meditation bowl. But sometimes,
the world goes beyond practicality - as it should.
Once the bowl begins to ring, its hum reaches
somewhere ethereal within the human heart. Perhaps,
in today's rushed world, that connection is more
practical than it is acknowledged.
Recently the Citadel has also acquired a superb
collection of Buddhist art from the Dragon Kingdom
of Bhutan and Nepal. A very life like statue of
Shakyamuni Buddha in natural bronze was ordered
by a client in 24 inches. It is made by one known
master who makes for the monasteries all over
the Himalayas. It is literally a masterpiece made
by a master. Wall masks studded with turquoise
and corals of Mahakala are a treat to watch. A
very graceful wooden statue of standing Buddha
in 24 inches with a very serene expression is
quite hypnotic. Sacred Citadel
has a vast collection of Singing Bowls. To be
precise you can find 16 different kinds of bowls.
During your visit do not forget to check out the
hand beaten ones with images of Manjushri and
Avalokiteshvara etched out on the inside.
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Sacred
Citadel also specializes in Indian art.
Here you will come across images of enlightenment
in the form of bronze and stone statues of Hindu
gods. A very exquisite collection of Ganesha statues
in semi-precious stones is available here. Beautiful
nymphs carved out of solid sandstone can be viewed
at the Citadel and they can also be custom ordered.
Rather most of the art pieces in bronze can be
customized as per the client’s requirements.
They can choose a theme, medium, size and finish
and the waiting period if five months. All the
customized items are not repeated. Lastly, amazing
life like statues of elephants in bronze and wood
can also be procured from Sacred Citadel. |
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Sacred
Citadel seems less a storehouse of items,
and more a protectorate of a rich and vibrant
Tibetan culture. And you are welcome to take a
piece of it home with you. Indeed, Sacred
Citadel seems blessed. In fact, it is...
by the Dalai Lama himself. If anyone wants to
attain artistic nirvana then there is no other
place like Sacred Citadel. This
is a repository of the most authentic Indo-Himalayan
art.
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