South Asia: Pala Sculpture and Painting
Artist: unknown
Title: The Adi Buddha Cakrasamvara and Vajravarahi
Material: stone
Site: West Bengal (?)
Current Location: Glamor House Monastery, Dharmasala, India
Period/Date: ca. 10 th. century
Iconography/Iconology: The istadevata Cakrasamvara and his prajnaVajravarahi
are from one of the most popular and important mandala cycles of the entire
tantric Buddhist movement. While it is certainhtat the Cakrasamvara cycles
developed in India very few Indic images have come to litght. The deity
can be identified by the attributes held in his twelve hands, among them
a kapala (skull cup), a trusula (trident) and a Brahmakapala (the severed
head of Brahma). These attributes are intended to display the characteristics
of the realizations that the deity and his consort represent in the progress
to enlightenment.
Stylistic Comments: This small stele, is characteristic of the type
that was probably used by itinerant teachers as they travelled in Tibet
after visiting India or having come from India. The discretionary stylistic
elements are small and limited to those features that are not determined
by iconographic necessities.
