Art Institute of Chicago
Vajradhara Buddha Seated Holding a Thunderbolt (Vajra) and Bell (Ghanta)
TibetLinkedCulture matchlcp-bb58281fe696
- Date
- 15th century
- Medium
- Silver and semiprecious stones
- Culture
- Southern Tibet
- Department
- Arts of Asia
- Institution
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Object ID
- 148390
From the Art Institute of Chicago record
This silver figure, though adorned like a bodhisattva, is more likely the Buddha Vajradhara. It probably served as the center of a three-dimensional mandala. The Buddha sits in the meditation posture while holding a vajra (thunderbolt) and bell in a gesture known as vajrahumkara (the adamantine sound). Certain sects of Himalayan Buddhism consider Vajradhara the creator and supreme power. He is the originator of the Five Transcendental Buddhas and embodies shunyata (voidness).
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Provenance & credit
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- Credit line
- Gift of Marilynn B. Alsdorf
Linked open data
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- Object type
- AAT300301253
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