A standing figure of the Bodhisattva Vajrasattva, holding a vajra in his proper right hand in front of his chest and holding another in his left on side; wearing ornamental headdress and jewelries. Made of gilded copper.
see von Schroeder 1981 for an extended bibliography. This piece (identified there as Vajjrasatva) is dated to the 13th century by von Schroeder. (1981, 350).Zwalf 1985
Curator’s comments
This superbly regal figure with ‘vajra’ and ‘ghaṇṭā’ follows an old Nepalese style of representing Bodhisattvas. The presence of Akṣobhya in the crown can be justified in the case of Vajrasattva as Supreme (Ādi) Buddha, since their connection is established in the texts. There is, however, also a Bodhisattva Vajrasattva, one of sixteen, connected with Akṣobhya. An identification as the Bodhisattva Vajrapāṇi seems textually unjustified, as Vajrapani is not reported in this form, although one late Nepalese image, holding both attributes in a somewhat different way, is claimed by Bhattacharyya as Vajrapāṇi and of Akṣobhya’s ‘family’.
Details
- Title : Bodhisattva Vajrasattva
- Year : 15thC
- Classification : Gold and bronze
- Medium : Gilded, cast
- Dimension : Height: 44.5 centimetres
- Accession No : 1932,0211.4, Object reference number: RRI7349
- Collection : The British Museum
- Credit Line : Donated by: Mrs Griffith & Dr G D Knight
- Acquisition Method : Gift (1932)
- Status : In storage
- Exhibition history : Buddhism: Art and Faith (BM 1985)