SCULPTURE OF CHAKRASAMVARA FROM KASHMIR

                           

CHAKRASAMVARA  FROM KASHMIR.

This sculpture done in leaded brass inlaid with copper relates to 9th-century Kashmir. It is on permanent display in  Los Angeles County Museum of Art USA. It was also displayed in the special ' Himalayan Art Exhibition 'organized by Rubin Museum of Art New York.

Chakrasamvara (The Wheel of Bliss) is one of the well known deities of  Tantric Buddhism practiced in the Himalayan region. Many images relating to   Chakrasamvara have been done in ancient Kashmir. 

Kashmir has been a hub of Tantric Buddhist teachings. This Sculpture lends credence to the fact that Tantric art especially sculpture and paintings is an essential component of Kashmir's ancient Buddhist heritage.

 Chakrasamvara is worshipped by Tibetan Buddhists.T his deity is done in several dozen different forms, from simple to complex and peaceful to wrathful.
According to Tibetan Buddhist texts:

"...Shri Chakrasamvara with a body blue in color, four faces, and twelve hands. The main face is blue, left face red, back face yellow and right face white. Each face has three eyes and four bared fangs. The first two hands hold a vajra and bell embracing the mother. The lower two hold an elephant skin out-stretched; third right a damaru, fourth an axe, fifth a trident, sixth a curved knife. The third left holds a katvanga marked with a vajra; fourth a vajra lasso, fifth a blood filled skullcup, sixth carries the four-faced head of Brahma. The right leg is straight and presses on the breast of red Kalaratri; left bent and pressing on the head of black Yama. The hair is tied in a topknot on the crown of the head; on the crest a wish-fulfilling jewel ornament and crescent moon. The soft spot at the top of the head is marked with a vishvavajra. Each head has a crown of five dry human skulls; a necklace of fifty fresh heads and six bone ornaments; wearing a lower garment of tiger skin; possessed of the nine emotions of dancing; grace, fearlessness, and ugliness; laughter, ferocity and frightfulness; compassion, fury and peacefulness."

(Avtar Mota)



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