Guhyasamaja
Returned to lender
This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.Here, Guhyasamaja is entwined in a coital embrace with his consort Sparshavajra. The style of the figures strongly connects to the wall painting of the West Tibetan site of Tholing. The artist’s decision to render the esoteric pair in the same azurite hue highlights their physical and conceptual union, presenting an image of the coalescence of masculine method and feminine wisdom. The vajra (thunderbolt) and ghanta (bell) implements in Guhyasamaja’s crossed hands symbolize this duality, which serves as the foundation for enlightenment. Composed in India around the eighth century, the Guhyasamaja Tantra was among the first Vajrayana sources to prescribe ingesting impure substances and engaging in sexual practices to expedite the journey to spiritual realization.
Artwork Details
- Title: Guhyasamaja
- Date: late 15th century
- Culture: Western Tibet
- Medium: Distemper, gold, and ink on cloth
- Dimensions: H. 34 in. (86.4 cm); W. 30 in. (76.2 cm)
Framed dimensions: H. 43 in. (109.2 cm); W. 38 in. (96.5 in.); Est. weight 19 lbs. (8.6 kg) - Classification: Paintings
- Credit Line: Lent by the Michael J. and Beata McCormick Collection
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art