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Mindrolling Monastery: Vajra Nairatmya
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Mindrolling Monastery: Vajra Nairatmya
CHINA, Tibet, Lhoka; Early 16th century; Gilt copper alloy; H: 80 cm
Vajra Nairatmya is the female consort of Hevajra and is usually represented as blue-black and dancing on human corpses. This early 16th century sculpture has a topknot of red flame-like hair behind a five-leaf crown. Above the round and staring eyes, the figure has a third wisdom eye. Her smiling features are colored. A garland of skulls hang on the consort’s naked upper body. The left hand holds a skull bowl, but the ritual chopper once grasped in the right hand is now missing. Wearing a skirt made of tiger skin, the statue sits in the posture of ease upon human corpses, a position representing dominance over illusory mind states. |
