Antique
Tibetan Gilt Bronze Buddha Chakrasambara
w/
Consort Vajrabarahi Central
Tibet, circa: 19th Century H 16.5" (42cm.), W 10" (25cm.), D
7" (18cm.)
Condition : Excellent! This
spectacular and ferocious work reveals the sexual imagery of Vajrayana Buddhism
and was created for use in meditation and devotional practice. Such imagery of
the highest yoga tantra was kept secret, being deemed appropriate only for advanced
practitioners, who, through the power of their creative visualization, can develop
experience of emptiness, or Buddha nature. | |
In
this superbly cast and gilt silver sculpture Chakrasamvara is shown embracing
his partner Vajrabarahi, who carries the skull cup in her forward right hand and
an arrow in her other right hand, her forward left hand displaying the Katanga,
a ritual staff with three human heads surmounted by a vajra, her lowered left
hand holding the bow. Both figures carry identical attributes. The couple stand
mirrored in a display of terrible invincibility; they literally dance in the air
balancing on one foot as they surmount the goddess Kalaratri, who represents nirvana,
showing Chakrasamvara’s rank of Buddhahood, in which he triumphs over the constraints
of both samsara and nirvana. The figures were cast separately, as were the heads
and the small figure of Kalaratri, and welded together after detailing. Each standing
figure has four heads with fearsome expressions meticulously and wondrously rendered
with incomparable skill in polychrome and cold gold. They are crowned with skulls
and ornamented with garlands of freshly severed heads. His vermilion hair rises
in plaited coils graced by a white crescent moon. As a peaceful deity her hair
is painted blue. Their white teeth are individually defined. Both figures are
adorned with necklaces, bracelets and anklets; the hands are delicately sculpted,
each finger individually modeled and finished with upturned tips and fingernails The
base of the statue is sealed and engraved with a double vajra. Which indicates
when the sculpture was completed a ceremony was held to call the deity into it;
blessings were bestowed and prayers inserted into the piece. The quality of artistry
in this work is superlative, yet beyond its excellence, it was created for Vajrayana
practice as an instrument for realizing the highest yoga of the Diamond Vehicle,
the Supreme Bliss. --RW | | |
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Private Collection | | |
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