Enthroned Amitayus

Tibet

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 253

Amitayus (Tibetan Tsepagmed) is one of the five Transcendent Buddhas of the central pantheon of esoteric deities of Vajrayana Buddhism. Understood as an emanation of the Adi-Buddha Amitabha, Amitayus is celebrated as the bestower of longevity. His defining attribute is the ornate vase of longevity that he holds in his hands poised in dhyanamudra on his lap. He is dressed in a kingly manner befitting the ruler of the Western Paradise, crowned, bejeweled and wears a waist cloth (dhoti), its rich patterning highlighted in inlaid copper and silver. The lotus-borne cushion is similarly enriched with inlaid metals.

Enthroned Amitayus, Bronze with silver and copper inlay, Tibet

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Enthroned Amitayus, Bronze with silver and copper inlay, Tibet
Enthroned Amitayus, Bronze with silver and copper inlay, Tibet

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