TIBET, XVIEME SIECLE

This impressive sculpture depicts Cakrasamvara, a four-faced, twelve-armed form of Samvara. He represents one of the most important yidams or tutelary deities in the Vajrayana pantheon. Samvara belongs to the vajra family of the tathagata Buddha Akshobhya. Here he is depicted in yab-yum (father-mother) form with his female consort Vajravarahi. The symbolism of the embracing couple may be interpreted as the unity of two polarities. By eliminating the opposition between the two, a Vajrayana practitioner removes one of the main obstacles on his path to Buddhahood. In his left lower hand Cakrasamvara holds the head of Brahma symbolizing that he 'avoids all illusions'. There is strong connection between Samvara and the Hindu god Shiva. Several attributes and emblems are borrowed from Shiva iconography. On the other hand Cakrasamvara tramples on Hindu deities and carries Brahma's head suggested by Vajrayana Buddhism as the symbol of superiority of Buddhism over Hinduism.