Art Institute of Chicago

Tantric Female Enlightened Being (Vajrayogini) Holding a Skull Cup

Tibet

Date

18th century

Medium

Silver, gilt silver, and gilt copper alloy

Culture

Tibet

Department

Arts of Asia

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

This metal image represents Vajrayogini, an important tantric goddess in Tibetan Buddhism visualized by adepts to aid them in spiritual attainment. Vajrayogini’s contorted face, bared fangs, and garland of skulls evince her fearsome nature. She wears a revealing bone skirt, holds a kapala (skull cup) in her left hand, and displays a khatvanga (scepter) behind her right shoulder. The figure’s attributes and posture accord with representations of Vajrayogini in the Naropa tradition except for the unusual rosary of human heads in her right hand, which normally holds a kartrika (flaying knife).

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