Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Buddha Vajrasattva
(India, Nepal, and Tibet)
The Sanskrit expression vajrasattva means "the thunderbolt of diamantine (also adamantine) essence," of which Vajrasattva is clearly the embodiment. His alternative epithet dharmadhatu means essence of religion. As an important archetypal deity, Vajrasattva is regarded both as a Buddha and a bodhisattva, though he is generally represented elaborately bedecked with ornaments in sambhogakaya or body-of-bliss form. He is frequently included in Tibetan lama lineages as the primordial teacher, and the Newars consider him to be the priest of the five transcendental Buddhas. This association may have been due to the disposition of the two attributes, held exactly as they are by priests during worship. This figure is portrayed in the conventional seated posture. Although the hand attributes are missing, from the disposition and gesture it can be identified as Vajrasattva.
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.
Alice Heeramaneck, New York [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; John and Berthe Ford, Baltimore, January 1984, by purchase.
Exhibitions
| 2001-2003 | Desire and Devotion: Art from India, Nepal, and Tibet in the John and Berthe Ford Collection. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore; Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara; Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque; Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham; Hong Kong Museum of Art, Hong Kong. |
Geographies
Tibet (Place of Origin)
Measurements
H: 9 3/4 x W: 5 5/8 x D: 4 1/2 in. (24.8 x 14.3 x 11.4 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of John and Berthe Ford, 2013
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
54.3093