TIBET, XVEME SIECLE

This fine gilt-bronze statue depicts Hevajra in union with his female consort Nairatmya. His sixteen hands hold each a skull-cup containing diminutive gods and animals that embody different qualities of Hevajra. The gods represent earth, fire, water, air, sun, moon, death and wealth. His eight faces guard all directions and one face emerge from his hairdo. Hevajra is the principal tutelary deity of the Saskyapa order and has a tantra text named after him. Three dimensional representations of Hevajra in sexual embrace with his consort Nairatmya are rare compared to painted representations as such a composition was a tour-de-force to create.