Item: Kunzang Akor (Bon Deity) - (hands in meditation)

Kunzang Akor (Tibetan: kun bzang a bskor): the meditational form of Shenlha Okar.

Kunzang Akor is generally recognized by the Tibetan letter 'A' placed on the chest at the level of the heart. The two hands are most commonly placed in the lap and hold the stems of two flower blossoms supporting a yungdrung (svastika) on the right and a vase on the left. Some images of have the right hand raised and placed in front of the heart in a gesture of blessing.

It is often said, but rarely practiced, that Bon depictions of the meditation gesture place the left hand over the right while the Buddhists always have the right hand on top of the left. There are several examples of Kunzang Akor sculpture with the hands left over right, HAR 85589 and 30512. Other examples of this can also be found with deities such as Tonpa Shenrab.

There are numerous traditions of ritual cycles and meditation practices for Kunzang Akor. It is also common to have a sculpture of Kunzang Akor created as a death memorial. In Tibetan Buddhism it is more common to have a painting created in memorium however in the Bon Religion creating a sculpture is more common and considered superior.

Jeff Watt 5-2010 [text 6-2005]

Thematic Sets
Sculpture: Monastic Period, Nepalese Schools (11th Century)
Bon: Masterworks Page
Nepal: Khasa/Yatse Masterworks
Bon Deity: Kunzang Akor Early Sculpture
Bon: Peaceful Deities (Early Sculpture)
Nepal: Khasa/Yatse Sculpture & Painting
Bon Sculpture Masterworks
Collection of WGA
Subject: Layered Deities & Figures
Sculpture: Style Names, Region & Artist
Bon: Sculpture (Early)
Subject: Masterworks (Sculpture, 雕塑)
Bon Deity: Kunzang Akor (Masterworks) Page
Collection: Christie's, New York (Sculpture. March, 2016)
Bon: 'A' Letter
Bon Deity: Kunzang Akor Page