NEPAL, LATE MALLA PERIOD, 16TH-17TH CENTURY

The practice of Chakrasamvara is one of the main tantric cycles of Tibetan Buddhism and the primary path to liberation relied upon by the famed eighty-four great Indian adepts to achieve their great attainments. Chakrasmvara is depicted here as described in Sanskrit and Tibetan ritual texts with three heads of red, green and yellow to see in each direction, and twelve arms, each bearing its own tantric implement. The symbolism behind Chakrasamvara’s iconography is manifold: his vajra and bell symbolize his mastery of method and wisdom; his elephant hide represents the destruction of illusion; his damaru and khatvanga represent the aspiration for enlightenment; his curved knife and skull cup symbolize utter egolessness; he cuts off the six defects with his axe and harnesses wisdom with his lasso; his trident marks his triumph over the threefold world; and, finally, the severed head of Brahma hanging from his lower right hand represents his supreme wisdom, penetrating all worldly illusions. He tramples Bhairava and Kalarati beneath his right and left feet, respectively, demonstrating his higher status than the Hindu gods.
He is primarily a meditational deity of the Highest Yoga Tantra classification, meaning that his practice has the potential to bring practitioners directly towards enlightenment within one lifetime.
Compare the present work with a closely-related example sold at Christie's New York, 22 March 2011, lot 296; both works display excellent openwork casting and thick, rich gilding.