Statue Filling

The bottom of a Deity (i.e. Tara, Vajrasattva, Guru Padmasambhava) statue may be hollow and empty. According to Buddhist tradition and understanding, it is necessary to have a statue like this “filled” with rolled mantras, incense and sometimes other sacred items such as jewelry, precious coins or relics. This blesses and “empowers” the statue. It also prevents the space inside the statue from being inhabited by negative energy. When the filled statue is placed on the shrine, it blesses the shrine and helps a person to further concentrate on meditation practice.

Filling a statue requires a trained monk or lama or specially trained person as it has specific practices and procedures. The statue bottom is first taken off.  The inside is then cleared of any extra plaster or other contents  and cleansed with safron water.   Special chants and incense is burned during this procedure.  If there are already rolled mantras, these are placed into the statue with incense and  other special herbs.  The type of mantra depends on which statue is being filled.  It is traditional for the person who is having the statue filled to also offer a piece of jewelry or coins (something valuable) for the inside of the statue. The statue is revered as a replica of the perfect Diety itself - so placing something valuable to us inside is our symbolic understanding of this idea.  If there are not mantras already rolled, then another special process is done in which the mantra paper is treated with saffron water, cut and rolled.   A "long life" pole with mantras is placed inside larger statues.  The bottom of the statue is then sealed.  There is then a "consecration ceremony" done for the statue which empowers the statue and the mantras within.  The process of filling a statue take quite a bit of time.

Once the statue has been filled, it can not be placed on the floor or in unsanitary places.  It should be placed on a shrine or other revered place in the home or business.