South Asia: Pala Sculpture and Painting
Artist: unknown
Title: The Buddha Sarvavid Vairocana
Material: copper alloy
Site: Nalanda
Current Location: National Museum, New Delhi, India
Period/Date: ca. 12 th. century
Iconography/Iconology: Sarvavid Vairocana is the form that Sakyamuni
takes in the Sarvadurgatiparsodana tantra.. As such he is the principle
figure of the mandala and generates ten different mandalas. His distinctive
mudra (bodhyangi) is formed by the right hand clasping the forefinger
of the left, indicating the unification of the five skanda into the One
(i.e., sunyata). In general, the Sarvadurgati mandalas have
had thirty-seven deities, and are ultimately rooted in the Vairocana cycles
of the Mahavairocana stura and Sarvatathagatatattvasamgraha
tantra.
Stylistic Comments: When compared to the image on the previous page,
this refined gilt bronze adresses a major change in the functionality in
ritual in eastern Indian Buddhist environment. The crudely carved stone
figure was probably made in secret by monks. However, this gilt metal image
is obviously the product of a highly skilled craft group consisting of several
individuals with specialized responsibilities. It suggests therefore, that
during the intervening three hundred years the practice of the Sarvadurgatparsodana
Tantra had evolved from an esoterical, technical practice for monks into
what must have been, given the richness of this figure, a lavish public
display (such public performances of tantric ritual continue to be carried
out to the present day in Nepal and Tibet).
