Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Vairochana Buddha - Vajradhatu (Tattvasamgraha Tantra)

ཀུན་རིག་རྣམ་པར་སྣང་མཛད། 普明大日如来(佛教本尊)
(item no. 85701)
Origin Location Central Tibet
Date Range 1200 - 1299
Size 54.61x30.48cm (21.50x12in)
Material Ground Mineral Pigment, Raised Gold on Cotton
Collection Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Catalogue # acc. #AC.1994.121.1, Purchased with Harry and Yuonne Lenart Funds
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Deity

Interpretation / Description

Vairochana (Tibetan: nam par nang dze), the central deity of the Tattvasamgraha Tantra, also known as the Vajradhatu Mandala with 1,037 deities, belonging to the Yoga classification of tantra.

This form of Vairochana varies in appearance from the Mahavairochana of the Sarvadurgati Parishodhana Tantra. The latter has the two hands placed in the lap in the gesture of meditation. The Tattvasamgraha image holds the two hands at the heart in a gesture with the right hand grasping the index finger of the left hand.

Sanskrit: Vairochana Tibetan: Nam par nang dze

Vajradhatu Lineage, Mahamandala and Abhisheka: Vajradhara, Gyalpo Rabsal Dawa, Acharya Rabjor Kyang, Kunga Nyingpo, Sherab Kyang, Shiwa Nyingpo, Getsan Shenyen, Devavajra, Shraddhakara Varma, Ngowo Rinchen Zangpo, Nangpa Tsundru Gyaltsen, Nyalpa Shima Sherab, Nur Nyimai Odzer, Nurpa Vajra Siddha, Tsakyab Dragpa Gyaltsen, Lama Lokkya Wangchug Dragpa, Lama Ngong Sherab Pal, Lama Chokyi Gyalpo.

Jeff Watt 3-2001

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Collection of Los Angeles County Museum (Tibetan Early Painting Masterworks)
Buddhist Deity: Vairochana (Tattvasamgraha Tantra)
Buddhist Deity: Vairochana (Charya & Yoga Tantras)
Buddhist Subject: Tattvasamgraha Tantra
Collection of Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Buddhist Deity: Vairochana, Vajradhatu (Tattvasamgraha)
Subject: Torana, Vairochana Buddha (Early Animal Depictions)