Chakrasamvara and Vajravarahi

late 15th–16th century

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 253

Chakrasamvara and his consort, Vajravarahi, was a favored subject for visualization in Tibetan Buddhism, as experienced by an advanced tantric master meditating upon the Chakrasamvara Tantra text. The couple, seen standing in sexual embrace, are key deities in the Vajrayana system, uniting two of the most powerful ideas in esoteric Buddhism: wisdom, embodied in Vajravarahi; and compassion, the essence of Chakrasamvara.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Title: Chakrasamvara and Vajravarahi
Date: late 15th–16th century
Culture: Tibet
Medium: Gilt bronze with inlaid turquoise
Dimensions: H. 7 3/4 in. (19.7 cm); W. 6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm); D. 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm)
Classification: Sculpture
Credit Line: Gift of the Kubicek family, in memory of Peter Kubicek, 2024
Object Number: 2024.441.1a–c
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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