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11th Century Pala Stele of the Dhyani Buddha Vairocana browse these categories for related items... All Items: Antiques:Regional Art:Asian:Indian Subcontinent:India: Pre 1492: item # 894574 Please refer to our stock # 1112 when inquiring.
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Details: A classical and beautifully proportioned example of an 11th century North East Indian, probably the Bihar region, Pala period phyllite image of the Supreme Dhyani Buddha Vairocana. He is seated in Vajrasana on a double lotus throne with the toes of his feet slightly flexed and his hands poised in the Dharmachakra Mudra, one of his identifying features. He is wearing a pleated close fitting Sanghati and the jewellery denoting his status as one of the five Cosmic Buddhas, made up of an elaborate crown with three triangular foliate projections, a foliate beaded necklace and a pair of circular lotus blossom earrings. In the Pala Vajrayana tradition, Buddha Shakaymuni is usually depicted simply robed and unadorned. Vairocana’s face is the characteristic Pala heart shape with a benign and meditative expression. An oval beaded nimbus surrounds his head flanked by two meditating seated Buddhas and on either side of his torso standing Buddha images. The double lotus throne is supported by an abundance of ornate vegetation centred by two kneeling worshippers. Between the eighth and twelfth centuries, eastern India was dominated by the rule of the Pala dynasty of kings. Huge quantities of sculpture were produced in this period, both in stone and metal. Very little architecture survives from eastern India in a complete state, but stone reliefs such as this one were placed in the niches of brick temples. This sculpture is typical Pala dynasty workmanship, the heart-shaped face with stylized arched eyebrows, long eyes that are slightly upturned at the ends, the broad nose, and the pursed smile are all characteristic. Both Hindu and Buddhist subjects were sculpted in a similar style. In Mahayana and tantric Buddhism, Vairocana is the supreme Buddha the cosmic counterpart of Sakyamuni in his teaching mode. He is the most prominent of the five Dhyani Buddhas, those who were born as humans to propagate the Dharma. Though without canonical basis, Vairocana holds a special place in Tibetan Buddhism and has a special role in the Avatamsaka-Sutra, in which he is the solar Buddha who is both the ultimate reality of the cosmos and the one who pervades its component parts. His symbol is the wheel and he is usually depicted with his hands in the teaching mudra. Meditation on Vairocana vanquishes ignorance. Age: 11th Century. Height: 50 cm. Width: 30 cm.
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