Himalayan Art Resources

Item: Chakrasamvara (Buddhist Deity) - Heruka

འཁོར་ལོ་བདེ་མཆོག། ནང་ལྷ། 勝樂金剛 (全图)
(item no. 15624)
Origin Location Tibet
Date Range 1300 - 1399
Lineages Buddhist
Material Metal, Painted Face/Hair
Collection Private
Notes about the Central Figure

Classification: Deity

Appearance: Semi-Peaceful

Gender: Male

Interpretation / Description

Heruka Chakrasamvara embracing Vajrayogini holding a vajra scepter upraised. The identification is based on the iconography of the posture, hand attributes and the small crescent moon adorning the proper left side of the skull crown.

"Chakrasamvara, blue in colour, the right foot is extended pressing on red Kalaratri and the left drawn in [pressing] on black Bhairava. With one face and two hands, three eyes, the right hand holds a vajra and the left a bell; embracing the consort, with a crown of five dry human heads as a crown, a necklace of fifty wet, and adorned with the six bone ornaments. [Chakrasamvara is] embraced by the consort Vajravarahi, red in colour, with one face and two hands. The right hand holds a curved knife pointed to the ten directions. The left holds a skullcup filled with the five nectars and embraces the Father. [She is] adorned with a crown of five dry human heads, a [necklace] of fifty dry [heads] and the five bone ornaments." (Jamyang Kyentse Wangpo, 1820-1892).

Jeff Watt [text added 11-2024]

Related Items
Thematic Sets
Buddhist Deity: Chakrasamvara, Heruka
Exhibition: Mandalas, Mapping the Buddhist Art of Tibet (Sculpture)
Buddhist Deity: Chakrasamvara Main Page
Exhibition: Mandalas, Mapping the Buddhist Art of Tibet (Corrigendum )