A wide-eyed mahasiddha plays symbols and sings ecstatically. Such yogis belong to an Indian tradition of eccentric practitioners of Tantrism, much revered in Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism. Mahasiddhas were instrumental in introducing the meditation system perfected by the Dzogchen masters of the Nyingma order, founded by Padmasambhava in the eighth century.
Arnold H. Lieberman
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Art of the Himalayas," December 15, 2010–December 4, 2011.
New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "Art of the Himalayas," December 3, 2011–December 9, 2012.
Artist: Date: ca. 12th century Accession Number: 2012.458 Date: ca. 12th centuryMedium: Brass with colored pigmentsAccession: 2012.458On view in:Gallery 253