Attributes worn on the head

Some deities always have a particular animal’s head attached to their own, others may have an animal’s head, an effigy, or an object in their hair that provides information about their identity. (The following have already been published in the corresponding part of the blog with photo credits and details).

BONE 

15th century, Tibet, Mahakala, LACMA.

Mahakala in his brahmarupa form, with a trumpet made of a human thigh bone in his topknot.

DRAGON

Undated, Vajrapani, at the AMNH.

Bhutadamara Vajrapani has a dragon in his hair.

EFFIGY

 Avalokiteshvara often has an effigy of Amitabha on his chignon, especially in his four-arm form and his padmapani form.

14th century, Nepal, Khasa Malla kingdom, Tara,  private collection, photo by Bonham’s.

A rare sculpture of Tara with an effigy of Amitabha on her head. Kurukulla, Maitreya and Manjushri may also be adorned with an effigy of this buddha in their hair.

7th-8th century, ‘Kashmir region’ (Swat Valley area?), Shakyamuni, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

An even rarer sculpture of the historical buddha with the effigy of a buddha with both hands in the meditation gesture, presumably Amitabha.

14th century, Tibet, Achala, copper alloy with copper and silver inlay, private collection.

Achala often has an effigy of Akshobhya on his head.

14th century, Tibet, Achala, private collection, item 30017 on HAR.

This very rare work depicts Achala with the five wisdom buddhas in his hair: Akshobhya on top of his chignon, Amitabha at the back, Ratnasambhava, Vairocana, Amoghasiddhi at the front.

12th-13th century, Tibet, Achala, private collection, photo by Christie’s.

Here he has the effigy of a buddha whose hands are in the fear-allaying gesture and the meditation gesture, such as Amoghasiddhi or Shakyamuni.

16th-17th century, Nepal or Tibet, Jambhala, at the Dallas Museum of Art.

Black Jambhala, adorned with an effigy of Amitabha.

11th-12th century, Western Tibet, Vajrakilaya, private collection.

Vajrakila, with an effigy of Amitabha on top of his coiffure and another instead of his main crown.

Undated, Tibet?, Black Jambhala, copper alloy, photo by Hanhai Auction on Himalayan Art Resources, item 44102.

The same form of Jambhala with the effigy of a buddha ‘turning the wheel of dharma‘ with his hands, like Vairocana or Shakyamuni.

13th century, Tibet, Jambhala, stone, private collection, photo by Hollywood Galleries on http://www.asianart.com.

Yellow Jambhala with Akshobhya sitting against his hair bun.

12th-13th century, Tibet, Vajrapani, gilt copper alloy, photo by Sotheby’s.

Chanda Vajrapani often has Akshobhya on his head or in his mitre-like hair. This buddha may also adorn the head of Prajnaparamita, Tara, Manjushri, Yamantaka, Achala, Hevajra, Buddhakapala, Mahakala, Samvara.

13th-14th century, Western Tibet, Vajrakila, at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, close up on HAR .

A rare Vajrakila with wrathful Vajrapani adorning his hair and crowns.

Vajrapani in his mahacakra form, with an effigy of himself in his chanda form on top of his chignon.

Undated, Vajravidarana, private collection, photo by Bonhams.

Blue Vajravidarana with an effigy of what looks like Padmasambhava (see on HAR ).

GARUDA

Undated, Tibet?, Guhyapati Vajrapani, private collection, 20349 on Himalayan Art Resources.

This rare form of wrathful Vajrapani has a garuda on its head.

Undated, Tibet, Vajrapani, private collection on Himalayan Art Resources.

An unusual sculpture of Mahacakra Vajrapani with a garuda standing on his head.

15th-16th century, Tibet, Yamantaka, bronze, private collection, photo by Christie’s.

Krishna Yamari (a form of Yamantaka) with garudas on his arms and head.

HORSE’S HEAD

15th century, Tibet, Hayagriva, private collection, photo by Christie’s.

Hayagriva’s distinctive feature is one or three neighing horse’s heads (green on paintings) on his own or in his flaming hair.

Hayagriva and consort, Tibet, 14th century, parcel gilt copper, private collection, photo by Marcel Nies.

This three-head and six-hand Hayagriva has an effigy of Amitabha on top of the horse’s heads.

8th century, Kashmir, Avalokiteshvara, bronze, at the St Louis Art Museum (USA), published by Ian Alsop.

Avalokiteshvara in his Lokanatha Mahakarunika form, with three heads topped with a large horse’s head  (Hayagriva is his wrathful aspect).

SOW’S HEAD

16th century, Nepal, Vajravarahi, private collection, photo by Bonhams.

Vajravarahi usually has the head of a sow protruding from her right temple. Sometimes it is on the other side, or on her head.

SNAKES

17th-18th century, Tibet, Nageshvara Raja, private collection, photo by Bonhams .

The buddha Nageshvara Raja/ Nagaraja has 5 or 7 cobra snakes on his head.

15th century, Tibet, Mahakala, Rubin.

The shanglon form of Mahakala has a naga hood.

14th century, Tibet, Vajrapani, copper alloy, Museum der Kulturen, Basel.

An unusual sculpture of wrathful Vajrapani with a naga hood.

13th century, Tibet, Black Jambhala, private collection, photo by Christie’s.

Black Jambhala and the early form of Yamari may have nagas piled on their head.

STUPA

Undated, Western Tibet, Maitreya, brass, item 66731 on HAR

Maitreya often has a stupa in his hair or on his head.

VISVAJRA

Late 15th century, Tibet, Chakrasamvara, private collection, photo by Christie’s.

Chakrasamvara has a visvajra (as well as a sun disc and a crescent moon) in his chignon (and a wish-granting gem on top).

Circa 15th century, Tibet, Hevajra and consort, silver with gold inlay, private collection, photo by Christie’s .

Guhyasamaja Hevajra usually has a visvajra on his head, especially in his 16-hand form.