Barakat Gallery
Skip to main content
  • Menu
  • Home
  • Artworks
  • Exhibitions
  • About
  • Contact
Menu
  • Menu

The Barakat Collection

Open a larger version of the following image in a popup: Gilt-Bronze Figure of Vajradhara, 16th Century CE - 18th Century CE

Gilt-Bronze Figure of Vajradhara, 16th Century CE - 18th Century CE

Gilt-Bronze
8
CB.2893
Enquire
%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3EGilt-Bronze%20Figure%20of%20Vajradhara%3C/span%3E%2C%20%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E16th%20Century%20CE%20%20-%20%2018th%20Century%20CE%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3EGilt-Bronze%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3E8%3C/div%3E
This is a gilt-bronze sculpture of the Bodhisattva Vajradhara in conventional jewelled bodhisattva outlook. He sits in crossed-legs lotus posture, crossing his hands in front of his chest while holding...
Read more
This is a gilt-bronze sculpture of the Bodhisattva Vajradhara in conventional jewelled bodhisattva outlook. He sits in crossed-legs lotus posture, crossing his hands in front of his chest while holding the roots of two lotus flowers in both hands. The lotus beside his right shoulder has a ghanta bell on the top, while the one beside his left has a vajra sceptre. Wearing a crown of lotus flowers, he has a smoothing smile on his face. This sculpture has an elaborate style. The details of his clothing, particularly his keyura, is highly decorated and exquisitely executed. The cavities’ condition show that it was perhaps once adorned with jewels.

Vajradhara is the primordial buddha, as well as the personification of the dharmakaya - truth body of enlightenment and progenitor of the Vajrayana system of Buddhism. He represents the essence of the historical Buddha’s realization of enlightenment. This also explains the fundament of his iconography – that he is holding the manifestations of the two aspects of dharma in hands. The vajra sceptre symbolises the strength of the dharma, that it is invincible and the mightiest. The bell symbolises the compassion to spread the dharma, that it should be heard by every sentient beings and thus guiding them to Buddhahood. His mantra – om ah Guru Vajradhara hum! – pays obeisance to the one who embodies the highest level of Enlightenment.

A similar sculpture is in the collection of the Museum of San Francisco (Object Number: B60B165).

Danny Ching
Close full details
Share
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • Email
Previous
|
Next
18761 
of  28197

London

48 Albemarle Street,

London, W1S 4JW

info@barakatgallery.eu 

 

       


 

CONTACT | TEAM | PRESS 

 

Seoul
58-4, Samcheong-ro,
Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82 02 730 1949
barakat@barakat.kr
             

 

Los Angeles

941 N La Cienega Blvd
Los Angeles CA 90069
+1 310 859 8408

contact@barakatgallery.com

  


 

 

Facebook, opens in a new tab.
Instagram, opens in a new tab.
Send an email
View on Google Maps
Manage cookies
Copyright © 2025 Barakat Gallery
Site by Artlogic


Manage cookies
Accept

Cookie preferences

Check the boxes for the cookie categories you allow our site to use

Cookie options
Required for the website to function and cannot be disabled.
Improve your experience on the website by storing choices you make about how it should function.
Allow us to collect anonymous usage data in order to improve the experience on our website.
Allow us to identify our visitors so that we can offer personalised, targeted marketing.
Save preferences
Close

Join our mailing list

Sign Up

* denotes required fields