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Five-Buddha Crown
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Five-Buddha Crown
NEPAL; Dated 1677; Gilt copper alloy; H: 45.7 cm; Victoria and Albert Museum, London, United Kingdom
This Nepalese crown was worn by a vajra master while presiding over Vajrayana Buddhist rituals. An inscribed prayer dedicated to Vajrasattva dates it to 1677.
Divided into two parts, the bottom part of the crown comprises the two-layer body of the crown, with seated Buddhas on the inner layer, and removable Five Dhyani Buddhas on the outside. All Buddhas sit on lotuses in full lotus position, surrounded by a floral mandorla and separated by scrolling leaf patterns decorated with gemstones. The upper portion is in the shape of an inverted alms bowl with a Buddha in the center. The finial resembles a five-prong vajra. |
