Amitayus (buddha)
(item no. 367)

Tibet

1700 - 1799

Nyingma Lineage

99.06x62.23cm (39x24.50in)

Ground Mineral Pigment, Fine Gold Line on Cotton

Collection of Rubin Museum of Art

(acc.# P1996.20.15)

 


Amitayus, Buddha (Tibetan: tse pag me. English: the Enlightened One of Immesurable Life) Lord of Limitless Life and Pristine Awareness, the Sambogakaya aspect (Enjoyment Body) of Buddha Amitabha.

Amitayus Tibetan: Tse pag me

"Bhagavan Lord of Limitless Life and Primordial Wisdom with a body red in colour, one face, two hands and with two long eyes glancing with compassion on beings, gazing on the entirety of migrators; and a smiling face, wearing the complete sambhogakaya vestments. Above the two hands held in meditation is a long-life vase filled with the nectar of immortality; with the hair in tufts, adorned with silks and jewels, seated in vajra posture, the body blazing with the shining light of the [32] marks and [80] examples." (Sakya Trizin Kunga Tashi, 1656-1711).

Common to all traditions of Tibetan and Himalayan Buddhism Amitayus primarily belongs to the three lower Tantra classifications. In the Nyingma tradition, he has both Kama (Oral) and Terma (Treasure) lineages of practice.

Jeff Watt 9-98

Front of Painting
English Translation of Inscription: "I bow down to Amitayus the Buddha of Life"

Wylie Transliteration of Inscription: tshe dpag med tshe yi lha la phyag 'tshal lo


View other items in:
Exhibition Appearance
Exhibition: Tibet House Cultural Center, NY, Part II
Exhibition: Dimock Gallery (George Washington University)
Exhibition: Wisdom & Compassion (Taiwan)
Exhibition: Knoxville Museum of Art

Publication
Publication: Worlds of Transformation

Thematic Set
1700 - 1799 (18th Century) Part I
Collection of Rubin Museum of Art: Painting Gallery V
Buddhist Deity: Long-Life Deities
Buddhist Deity: Amitayus, Sambhogakaya Buddha
Painting Style: Men-ri and Karma Encampment Style



Copyright © 2008 Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation.
Photographed Image Copyright © 2004 Rubin Museum of Art