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Home , Dakini, Kapala, Palden Lhamo, Potala Palace, Terma (religion)

Sacred Art of the Himalayan Region

Art is absolutely central to Himalayan spirituality. Sculptures and paintings of sacred figures serve as models for the most important Kunzang Galwa Dupa is a is the UshnishavijayaU h i h ij personifies ifi Tibetan meditative practice, of the tradition, legendary Indian adept the , a dome-like The Buddhist deity which involves visualization. an indigenous religion long who brought to Buddhist shrine. She helps Simhavaktra is a Because they are understood as present in western . Tibet in the eight century. foster long life in . containers of the body, speech, or “sky-walker.” She was probably made in and mind of enlightened beings, during the Qianlong era. properly created artworks can preserve and transmit sacred Taklamakan Gobi presences across time. Indeed, Desert Altai Desert Tibetan sacred art is sometimes Mountains attributed with the power to “liberate on sight,” because even a visual encounter with its Tibetan symbolism can raise awareness Plateau Yellow River beyond ordinary thought, Indus CHINA feeling, and perception. River Himalayan Mountains Yangtze River Kathhmaandu

Ganges River

The Svayambhu monument in , Nepal, is one of Buddhism’s The built by the most recognizable Great Fifth Dalai in 1642 still stands today. Although damaged PLEASE DO NOT and the symbolic Bay of Bengal center of the cosmos. during China’s , REMOVE FROM its three component buildings still THE GALLERY tower over the city of Lhasa. Implements of Bone

One element in the development of was the spiritual discipline of ascetics, who wandered the funeral grounds of ancient India practicing . To this day, Bone apron (sanmudras) Ewer made from human skulls Ritual dagger Pair of thighbone trumpets ritual implements made from 1700–1800 Approx. 1800–1911 Approx. 1500–1600 (kang-ling) human bone are a distinctive Tibet China; Dolonnor, Inner Mongolia Tibet Approx. 1800–1911 feature of Tibetan Buddhism. Human bone (1644–1911) Bronze and iron China; Dolonnor, Inner Mongolia The Avery Brundage Collection, Human bone and copper repoussé Acquisition made possible by Donald Qing dynasty (1644–1911) To Buddhists, human bone is a B60M101 The Avery Brundage Collection, Buhman, 2003.13 Human bone and brass reminder that life is brief and B60M454 The Avery Brundage Collection, death inevitable. Bones have This kind of Tibetan ritual instrument B60B218 and B60B219 other symbolic dimensions as for subjugating demons is known as a phurba. Padmasambhava was credited These trumpets act as a reminder to the well. Tibetans see the skull as a with its introduction when he brought player and to the listeners of their own natural container. Unshaped by Buddhism to Tibet in the eighth century. and death. human hands, it represents the This powerful instrument is unusual in fundamental goodness that is having a combination of two metals: the natural condition of the mind. a bronze handle and a triangular iron Bone trumpets call fearsome blade. The three heads at the top of supernatural entities. Aprons of the dagger differ slightly from each bone beads are counted among other, but each has a third eye, frowning eyebrows, and fangs to accentuate the the funerary “dancing clothes” god’s wrathful appearance. A hole is that signify a yogin’s heroic pierced on top so that a tassel or scarf victory over life and death. Sorcerer’s horn The Buddhist deity Chitipati can be attached to it. 1800–1900 Approx. 1800 Bone implements are also Tibet Tibet The handle is formed by a knob with portrayed in painting and Goat horn and copper alloy Bronze with gilding lotus petals situated between two knots, sculpture. In this gallery the Gift of M. R. N. MacPherson, 1992.226 The Avery Brundage Collection, below which is a ritual crocodile called a B62B170 goddess holds a makara, from whose jaws issue the iron This horn terminates in the head of a blade and two serpents. The triple blade skull bowl, and Chakrasamvara mythical crocodile (makara) and is Chitipati is the lord of funeral grounds symbolizes overcoming the three root and his consort as well as the carved with auspicious and protective and a god of knowledge. He is usually poisons of desire, ignorance, and hatred. adept Virupa wear bone aprons. designs such as buddhas, a stupa, a shown with a female consort. PLEASE DO NOT dragon, a scorpion, and a snake. During REMOVE FROM , beans or mustard seeds, THE GALLERY kept inside the horn, are cast into the air. Tibetan Ritual Objects

Tibetans created many objects to be used in religious and ceremonies. Monks hold the thunderbolt and bell in their hands during , and Conch shell Ritual bell and symbolic thunderbolt Skull bowl () Pair of butter lamps such implements are seen in 1700–1800 China 1700–1800 Approx. 1700–1800 the hands of Buddhist . Tibet Ming dynasty, reign of the Yongle Tibet Tibet Held in the right and left hand Conch shell mounted on gilded silver emperor (1403–1424) Silver with gilding Silver respectively, they represent with inlaid jewels Bronze with gilding The Avery Brundage Collection, B60M7 The Avery Brundage Collection, the wisdom and skillful means The Avery Brundage Collection, B60M3 Gift of Margaret Polak, B85B3.a and B62M75.a and B62M75.b B85B3.b without which one cannot be Tibetans bring butter to temples and enlightened. The soundings The bell and thunderbolt (dorje add it to the butter lamps burning there. of long horns and conch-shell and drilbu) are the foremost ritual This is done as a means of acquiring trumpets summon the monks implements of Tibetan Buddhism. in Buddhist practice. to prayers every morning, The bell symbolizes emptiness, the and together with the sounds ultimate reality of the cosmos, while the of cymbals and drums, they thunderbolt symbolizes the meditative, punctuate the sessions. ritual, and philosophical methods used to attain it. Used together during Prayer wheels, which come in all prayers and rituals, they signify the sizes, express Tibetan Buddhists’ union of emptiness and the method of devotion to their religion. Stuffed its attainment, which together comprise with rolled-up prayers, prayer the enlightened state. These objects wheels are rotated clockwise, are of great historical significance: the and a rotating Yongle emperor of China had these ensures that, even when one implements cast as a gift for a high is having a conversation with lama of Tibet. friends, prayers are being said. Skull bowls, trumpets, and vessels made of human bones remind devotees that life is impermanent, and they have to work hard for their salvation.

PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE FROM THE GALLERY Teapot Prayer wheel Libation jug Storage box Treasure chest 1700–1800 1700–1800 1800–1900 1600–1800 Approx. 1600–1700 Tibet Tibet Tibet Tibet Tibet Silver Silver Silver repoussé Wood, leather, metal, pigment, and wool Wood with painted and varnished cloth The Avery Brundage Collection, The Avery Brundage Collection, The Avery Brundage Collection, B60M1 Gift of Ruth Sutherlin Hayward and overlay, inlaid gold, inlaid silver, and B60M16+ B60B158 Robert W. Hayward in recognition of the iron fittings anonymous artist who created Tibetan Gift of the Connoisseurs’ Council. furniture, 2005.86 2001.3

The leather covering of this wooden Every monastery has a chest in which storage box is painted with an overall to lock its treasures, such as silver and design of birds amid flowering and gold butter lamps and rare . scrolling vines. The influence of As befitting a treasure chest, this imported textiles can be seen in example has elegant inlaid fittings and the rectangular border design of is elaborately painted, bearing the interlocking coins. The front panel image of a rare form of a wealth-deity; features a figure holding a tray of he has three heads and holds various jewels. Red and gold, the main colors, objects, including two mongooses from are shown against a black background. which spill jewels. Also depicted on The box is lined with a stenciled wool this chest are two , the felt lining from Mongolia. It has metal highest incarnation of the order, mounts, metal lugs on the sides, and a indicating that this piece of furniture latch that can be secured with a lock. came from a temple of that order. The design of the bottom part of this chest gives us the illusion that it is in two sections, but actually there is only one space inside.

Such chests were made in pairs. The twin of this one is in the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE FROM THE GALLERY 1 worship of this form of to person named Pan on the first day of the Shrine with fifteen gilded , the of Mongolia in the 1500s. Mahakala steps ninth month, in the twentieth year of the wisdom, B60B1059 on two elephant-headed . His Daoguang emperor (1840). bronze images This bodhisattva carries the book of missing symbolic implements are the Approx. 1600–1800 Transcendent Wisdom and the sword flaming jewels, a skull bowl, and an 11 Central Tibet that cleaves the clouds of ignorance. elephant prod. The Buddhist guardian Dam Chen riding an elephant, B60B151 Wood with colors and gilding Gift of Donald Buhman and Louise Russell 2 7 The Dam Chen were five Mongol , 1995.72 Jina Padmajyotis, a buddha of The Buddhist deity Nritya, B60B144 brothers who swore to protect Buddhism. confession, B60B148 As the goddess of the dance, Nritya Dwarfish in appearance, they sit sideways This Tibetan shrine, with its fifteen carved niches, is for the display One of the thirty-five buddhas of holds aloft two thunderbolts. The dark on their mounts. This figure carries a of sacred images. Such shrines are a common feature inside confession in Tibetan Buddhism, this bronze surface forms a contrast with the thunderbolt and a lasso. shrine rooms of temples and private residences in Tibet. The small buddha stands for the radiant purity of gilded areas. This statue was part of a triangular decorations on top are known as “piles of books,” a the lotus flower. large group of images made for the Qing 12 popular motif in the woodcarver’s repertoire. The production of imperial palace. The Buddhist guardian Dam Chen 3 riding a mule, B60B152 shrines, as well as the commissioning of high-quality Jina Bhadrashri, a buddha of 8 One of the five Dam Chen brothers from bronzes such as these, reveals how deeply the Vajrayana tradition confession, B60B146 The Buddha Amitayus, B60B140 Mongolia who took an oath to protect had influenced Chinese religious thought and practice by the turn of As one of the thirty-five buddhas The buddha of boundless life grants Buddhism, this brother brandishes a the twentieth century. of confession in Tibetan Buddhism, longevity. This statue was one of many hammer. Bhadrashri stands for all-embracing commissioned for the mother of the All the images are from China’s Qing dynasty (1644–1911), were kindness. His right hand is in the gesture on the occasion of her 13 made between 1700 and 1900, and are bronze, gilded bronze, or of resignation, and his left hand in the eightieth birthday. The thunderbolt legs Seated bodhisattva, 1995.25 partiallpartiallyy ggildedilded bronzebronze.. All are from the AverAveryy BrBrundageu Collection gesture of meditation. of the throne and the ornaments of the The identity of this bodhisattva is not figure show heavy Nepalese influence. known. The collar of leaves that adorns eexceptxcept 11995.2,995.2, which was a ggiftift of an anonymouanonymouss donor. 4 him is rather unusual. His left hand Jina Prabhasashri, a buddha of 9 is raised in the gesture of religious confession, B60B147 The Buddhist deity Vajrasphoti, discussion, while his right hand is One of the thirty-five buddhas of B60B143 lowered in the gift-granting gesture. 1 2 3 4 5 confession in Tibetan Buddhism, this This image of the goddess Vajrasphoti, buddha stands for the holy light of whose name can be translated as 14 forgiveness. His hands are held in the “diamond chain,” once actually carried The Buddhist guardian Dam Chen gesture of victorious argument. chains. During the Qianlong period, riding a goat, B60B150 a number of sculptures representing As one of the five brothers from 6 7 8 9 10 5 complete Buddhist pantheons were Mongolia who took an oath to protect The Buddhist lama Tsongkhapa, commissioned for the emperor’s private Buddhism, Garba Nagpo carries the B60B145 worship. This goddess once belonged to (thunderbolt), hammer (which in this As an incarnation of Manjushri, the such a set. image is missing), and tiger-skin bellows. bodhisattva of wisdom, the famous 11 12 13 14 15 abbot and scholar Tsong Khapa (1357– 10 15 1419) also carries a sword and a book. The Buddhist guardian Six-Armed The Buddhist guardian Dam Chen Mahakala, B60B156 riding a horse, B62B176 6 Mahakala, who has many forms, is The five Dam Chen brothers from The Buddhist deity White Mahakala, one of the Eight Guardians of the Law. Mongolia took an oath to protect B60B141.a-.b An inscription in Chinese on the back Buddhism. They wear broad-brimmed The Third introduced the states that it was commissioned by a hats and sit sideways on their mounts. Simhavaktra’s Symbolism

Simhavaktra, the “lion-headed one” is a “sky-walker” (dakini), a Her hair blazes magical being who inhabits the realm of the sky. Her appearance upward with the symbolically expresses many aspects of Buddhist thought. fire of wisdom. Her lion’s head indicates fearlessness The Buddhist deity Simhavaktra, a dakini China; Beijing or vicinity, Hebei province in confronting all Qing dynasty, reign of the Qianlong emperor (1736–1795) obstacles to liberation. Dry lacquer inlaid with semiprecious stones The Avery Brundage Collection, B60S600 Her cape of freshly flayed human 25 skin signifies her transcendence of human limitations. The bone ornaments on her chest indicate that she has passed beyond the cycles of birth and death.

The tiger skin around her waist symbolizes victory over all harmful emotions.

PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE FROM THE GALLERY Simhavaktra, the “Sky-Walker” Simhavaktra and Padmasambhava

Simhavaktra is a dakini, a term that translates from the Tibetan Simhavaktra is associated first and foremost with the Indian adept as “sky-walker” (mkha’ ‘gro ma). Originally derived from imagery Padmasambhava, the man accredited with taming the native and practices associated with female Indian , the dakini in Tibet demons of Tibet and enabling the establishment of Buddhism in becomes a deity thought to reside in and dance through the sky. With the Himalayan Region. According to some legends, Simhavaktra her legs drawn up in a specific dancing posture, she symbolizes the trained Padmasambhava during his time in the western Indian movement (‘gro) of energy in space (mkha’), and by extension the union kingdom of . One of his eight forms, the “Lions’ Roar,” of appearance (snang ba) and emptiness (stong ba) whose realization (Sanskrit: simharaurava), is the aspect he took while training under brings enlightenment. Simhavaktra. Sometimes she is even regarded as a secret form taken by Padmasambhava.

Meditating on Simhavaktra Simhavaktra and “Hidden Treasures” Because Simhavaktra is understood to be a manifestation of enlightened awareness, she is also a deity visualized during meditation (). By Most practices focused on Simhavaktra derive not from any Tantric visualizing Simhavaktra, meditators incorporate her fierce compassion texts translated from Indian sources, but rather from texts developed within their own awareness. Such meditative incorporation of only in Tibet called “hidden treasures” (gter ma, pronounced Simhavaktra is believed to transmute the psychological poison of hatred “”). Such treasures—of which the famous Tibetan Book of into wisdom. the Dead is an example—are texts that, according to tradition, Padmasambhava, whose name means Padmasambhava composed and hid in the eighth century so they “Lotus Born,” introduced Vajrayana or might survive an impending crisis: the ninth-century proscription of Lightning Vehicle Buddhism to Tibet. Buddhism in Tibet. Padmasambhava intended that his treasures be recovered only by the right persons at the right time. Accordingly, he The Buddhist lama Padmasambhava encoded these texts in the script of the , which can only be Approx. 1500–1600 decoded with their aid. Tibet Bronze with gilding, inlaid jewels, and hammered silver The Avery Brundage Collection, B60B174

PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE FROM THE GALLERY Painted Treasures Simhavaktra and Secret Deposits

While artistic representations of deities derived from hidden treasures Traditionally, dakinis like Simhavaktra assist in the recovery of “hidden are rare, the Asian Art Museum conserves one stunning example. treasure” in the form of sacred texts understood to be perfectly tuned Padmasambhava appears on the upper left, and the Bhutanese lama to the needs of their time of recovery. This very sculpture has also , who recovered the treasure, on the upper right of the enabled the preservation of a different kind of “hidden treasure.” painting shown here. On the reverse of the painting appear Recent photography has enabled our conservators to discover a extracts from the terma (“hidden treasure”); they are executed in gold deposit of consecration materials behind Simhavaktra’s muzzle. script across a brilliant orange stupa. This deposit contained a variety of dried seeds and herbs that had been inserted into the sculpture inside the tied bag visible in the photographs.

Tibetans place texts, herbs, or other objects inside sculptures to consecrate them. Many consecration deposits were plundered in antiquity for the small gems or coins they often contained. Because of these historical occurrences, contemporary scholars who study such objects seldom expect to find the caches intact. Body cavity of Simhavaktra

Tied bag containing seeds and herbs.

The front (left) and back (right) views of a Buddhist thangka painting depicting Drakpochey, a form of Padmasambhava, as the central image on the front of the painting. He holds a scorpion in one of his left hands. PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE FROM THE GALLERY