Tibet, Vajrayogini – buddha and dakini

Labelled ‘Kathmandu Valley, Vajradevi’, 17th century (more likely circa 15th century, Tibet, Densatil, Vajravarahi’, gilt bronze with stone inlay, 37 cm,  photo on wisdomlib, at the National Museum of Nepal.

We have seen many Vajravarahi statues from the former Densatil monastery with this distinctive type of pedestal.

18th century, Tibet?, Vajrayogini, gilt bronze, 13 cm, Northern Himalayan Gallery on wisdomlib, at the National Museum of Nepal.

18th century, Tibet?, Vajrayogini, bronze, 23 cm, Northern Himalayan Gallery on wisdomlib, at the National Museum of Nepal.

17th century, Tibet, Sarvabuddhadakini, bronze with polychromy (and stones now missing), 16 cm, private collection, European and Asian Art lot 290, 6th June 2023, Loeckx.

18th-19th century, Tibet, Sarvabuddhadakini, gilt bronze repoussé with cold gold and stone inlay, 15,5 cm, private collection, Auction 819 China 1, lot 71, Nagel

Tibet, Vajravarahi (23)

Circa 14th century, Tibet, Vajravarahi, bronze with cold gold and pigment, 15,8 cm, private collection, Auction 819, China I lot 3, 7th December 2023, Nagel

14th century, Tibet, Vajravarahi (labelled ‘Vajradakini’), bronze, 14,5 cm, private collection, Asian Art lot 200, 30th October 2023, Bonhams (London).

15th century, Central Tibet, Densatil Monastery, Vajravarahi, gilt copper alloy, 37,1 cm, photo and another 2 views on HAR , The Claude de Marteau Collection Part III, lot 19, 14th June 2023, Bonhams (Paris).

15th century, Central Tibet, Densatil Monastery, Vajravarahi, gilt copper alloy with turquoise inlay, 29,5 cm, The Claude de Marteau Collection Part IV, lot 17, 6th October 2023, Bonhams (Hong Kong).

Not to be confused with Varahi, a Hindu deity with the head of a sow, Vajravarahi is thought to be the oldest form of Vajrayogini. Although most portable sculptures depict her with the sow’s head protruding from her right temple, it may be on the other side or on top of her own head, but it is not depicted when she is in embrace with her consort (usually Samvara, sometimes Hevajra or Hayagriva). Youthful and naked, she stands in a dancing pose atop a victim who represents ignorance, adorned with a five-skull crown, bone jewellery, a bone girdle or apron, a garland of severed heads or a garland of skulls – especially on 14th and 15th century sculptures from Densatil or around, as above – and often has a celestial scarf flowing around her. As we saw in a recent post, she wields a flaying knife in her right hand and holds a skull cup before her heart in the other.

Tibet, Vajrayogini – various forms (2)

Vajrayogini, the female aspect of complete buddhahood, has various forms, usually with one head, three eyes, two arms, and two legs, youthful and naked, adorned with a garland of severed heads, a five-skull crown, and bone jewellery.

16th century, Tibet, Vajrayogini, gilt copper alloy and stone inlay, 15,2 cm, private collection, Dharma and Tantra lot 185, 18th September 2023, Sotheby’s

Vajrayogini standing in a dancing posture and facing the viewer is also known as Vajradakini. She stands on a demon called Nairrti (according to Elizabeth English in Vajrayogini: Her Visualization, Rituals, and Forms), wielding a flaying knife and holding a skull cup before her heart and a ritual staff (missing here) in the crook of her left elbow.

13th-14th century, Tibet, Vajravarahi, bronze with inlays (and cold gold), 23 cm, private collection, Fine Asian Art Only lot 64, 12th November 2022, Hardt.

Vajravarahi, possibly the oldest from of Vajrayogini, stands in the same posture and holds the same attributes but she has the head of a sow protruding from one of her temples (usually the right one), or, more rarely, on top of her head. The victim under her foot is Red Kalaratri, who embodies ignorance.

16th century, Tibet, Vajrayogini, Naropa Tradition (Sarvabuddhadakini), metal, private collection, on HAR

Sarvabuddhadakini may stand with one foot on Red Kalaratri or with one foot on Red Kalaratri and the other on Black Bhairava (who represents the ego), as would have been the case here if the pedestal had been preserved. She faces sideways, holds her flaying knife down towards the ground, and raises her skull cup full of blood to drink from it.

Tibet, Vajravarahi (22)

12th-13th century, Indian Schools in Tibet, Vajravarahi, brass with silver and copper inlay, 26,2 cm, photo: courtesy of Ulrich von Schroeder (Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet, Volume One, Visual Dharma Publications, Hong Kong, p. 287, pl. 94C), Potala Collection, inventory nº 952 at the Lima Lhakhang in Lhasa (Tibet).

Depicted with a particularly large sow’s head protruding from her right temple, Vajravarahi (probably the earliest form of Vajrayogini) stands in a dancing pose, with her left foot on a victim and her right leg resting on a lotus rising from the pedestal, holding a flaying knife and a skull cup. She is naked, adorned with a skull crown, a garland of severed heads, a bone belt and bone jewellery. Her long flaming hair if worn loose down the back.

15th century, Central Tibet, Densatil Monastery, Vajravarahi, gilt copper alloy with stone inlay, 29,6 cm, private collection, Arts d’Asie lot 173, 15th June 2023, Sotheby’s (Paris).

We have seen similar Nepalese-style sculptures from the former Densatil monastery complex (pillaged and destroyed during the Chinese Cultural Revolution), all of them including an elaborate lotus pedestal and a celestial scarf that forms a halo around her head and a loop at elbow level (passing before her right arm and behind the left one), usually with a ‘raining jewel’ design at the ends.

Same as before, 31,8 cm, private collection, Arts d’Asie lot 174, 15th June 2023, Sotheby’s (Paris).

Same as before, 33,3 cm, lot 172.

On the last two examples her garland passes behind her raised leg.

Tibet, Vajravarahi (21)

Undated, Tibet, White Vajravarahi, gilt metal, private collection, photo on HAR

It is most unusual for this female deity to be standing on a victim with her right foot (unless the picture is the wrong way round) while the raised one is supported by scrolling lotuses, she usually stands on the left foot. Equally unusual is what looks more like a vajra sceptre  than a flaying knife in her right hand, but the head of a sow protruding from her right temple clearly identifies her as the Vajravarahi aspect of Vajrayogini.

1757-1913, Tibet, Phong-dong-ma, (the keeper of the Eastern Side), gilt bronze, photo and details on  Huntington Archive , at the Indian Museum in Kolkata (India).

This wrathful female with the head of a sow and four arms brings to mind a form of Vajravarahi known as Vajraghona, who holds a hook and a vajra sceptre in her right hands, a noose and a skull cup in the left ones, and has a ritual staff in the crook of her left arm. She stands on a single victim and wears a leopard skin around her waist.

Tibet, Vajrayogini – various forms (2)

Vajrayogini, who represents complete buddhahood in female form, is usually depicted as a youthful naked woman with three eyes, adorned with a skull crown, a garland of severed heads, often complemented with bone jewellery, a bone apron, and a flowing scarf. Her main attributes are a flaying knife in her right hand, a skull cup in the left one, a ritual staff against her left arm.

12th-13th century, Tibet, Vajravarahi, copper alloy, 11 cm, The Triay Collection of Himalayan Art lot 147, 15th Decemb er 2022, Bonhams (Paris).

13th century, Tibet, Vajravarahi, polychrome wood, 11,5 cm, private collection and photo as before, lot 137.

Circa 14th century, Tibet, Vajravarahi, stone, 98 cm, private collection and photo as before, lot 126.

As Vajravarahi, possibly her oldest form, she has the head of a sow attached to hers (except when depicted as a consort), usually protruding from her right temple, and stands in a dancing posture with one foot on Kalaratri, who embodies ignorance. She wields her flaying knife above her head and holds the skull cup before her heart.

14th century or later, Tibet, Vajrayogini, wood, 9,6 cm, private collection, Art d’Asie lot 185, 16th December 2022, Christie’s (Paris).

16th-17th century, Tibet, dakini (Vajrayogini?), bronze with cold gold and pigment, photo by Nabin K. Sapkota on wikimedia, inventory nº 155 at the Patan Museum (Nepal).

The same iconography without the head of a sow, known as Vajrayogini or Vajradakini (not to be confused with one of the four dakinis in Jambhala’s retinue with the same name, who holds a vajra sceptre in her right hand).

Circa 1600, Tibet, dakini, bronze, 15,9 cm, inventory nº 1993.104.7 at the Brooklyn Museum (USA).

Circa 1600, Tibet, dakini, bronze, 17,8 cm, inventory nº 1993.104.11 at the Brooklyn Museum (USA).

As Sarvabuddha Dakini she has her right arm down, holding the flaying knife near her leg, and her face turned towards the skull cup which she raises to drink blood from it. She often stands on Red Kalaratri and Black Bhairava (embodiment of the ego).

Tibet, Vajrayogini (10)

Undated (early work), Tibet, Vajravarahi, metal, private collection, photo on HAR , published in ‘Sattvas & Rajas, The Culture and Art of Tibetan Buddhism’.

Vajrayogini with the head of a sow protruding from her right temple, trampling on a victim atop a single-lotus base, her raised knee leaning on a lotus rising from the pedestal. She wields a flaying knife, holds a skull cup before her heart, and has a short ritual staff in the crook of her arm. Her two-tier bun is topped with a half-vajra finial.

15th century, Tibet, Vajrayogini, metal, private collection, photo on HAR

Vajrayogini without the head of a sow attached to hers, also known as Vajradakini, same pose (always facing the viewer) and same attributes.

Date and origin not quoted (Tibet?), Vajrayogini, Naropa tradition, photo on HAR , at the Museum der Kulturen in Basel (Switzerland).

As Sarvabuddha Dakini, also known as Naro Khechara and a few other names, she stands on both feet, looking towards the skull cup she raises in her left hand to drink from it, and holds her flaying knife down against her leg. We saw a similar sculpture at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, from Tibet, dated 17th century.

18th century (or later?), Tibet, Vajrayogini, silver alloy, 12,2 cm, private collection, photo on proantic

Tibet, Sarvabuddha Dakini (13)

1354-1642 CE, Tibet, Naro Dakini, bronze (with turquoise inlay), details on Huntington Archive , photo on HAR , at the Tibet House Museum in New Delhi (India).

17th-18th century, Tibet, Vajrayogini, gilt bronze, 21 cm, Fine Chinese Art lot 390, 16th October 2021, Galerie Zacke.

Mid-18th century, Central Tibet, Naro Dakini, gilt copper alloy with turquoise, coral, pigments, gilt copper repoussé attributes, 50,8 cm, at the National Museum of Asian Artof the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC (USA).

Probably from the same workshop as a Machig Labdron as Vajrayogini from the same museum seen previously ( here ).

Tibet, Vajravarahi (20)

12th-13th century, Tibet, Vajravarahi, bronze, 17 cm, private collection, photo on Nagel , lot 3.

Vajravarahi, with a sow’s head protruding from her right temple, a third eye, bared fangs, stands naked, her left foot crushing a victim, her right leg raised, the knee supported by a lotus sprouting from the base. She wields a flaying knife and holds a skull cup before her heart as usual, but her short staff suspended in the air is an archaic feature.

She is adorned with a basic five-skull crown, a garland of severed heads, simple bone jewellery.

15th century, Tibet, Vajravarahi, gilt metal (with stones missing), private collection, photo on HAR

Later Tibetan brass sculptures normally include a celestial scarf, a bone apron, a longer staff, and elaborate jewellery. The above also wears a cross-belt. The severed heads around her neck are strung on two threads, just like on a Vajravarahi from Densatil seen in Jean-Luc Estournel‘s catalogue raisonné.

Circa 17th century, Tibet, Vajravarahi, stone, 7 cm, private collection, photo on Cornette de Saint Cyr

Tibet, Vajravarahi (19)

12th century, Tibet, Vajravarahi (labelled ‘Vajrapani’), bronze, private collection, Art d’Asie lot 211, 19th December 2012, Christie’s, Paris (Vajravarahi, 14th century on Christie’s, New York ).

Vajrayogini with a sow’s head protruding from her right temple, bared fangs, and a third eye, crushes a victim with her left foot, her opposite leg resting on a lotus stemming from the pedestal. She is naked and adorned with a tiara, bone jewellery, a garland of severed heads, a bone girdle with lotus bud pendants. There is a large vajra-tipped flaying knife in her right hand and a skull cup in the other.

14th-15th century, Tibet, Vajravarahi, bronze with cold gold and pigment, private collection, Fine Works of Asian Art lot 6155, 18th June 2007, Bonhams, San Francisco.

15th-16th century, Tibet, Vajravarahi, copper (alloy) with cold gold, private collection, Asian Art lot 32, 20th May 2009, Woolley & Wallis.