Search

The different trends of tantric Buddhism place at the top of their pantheon a category of spiritual entities representing the supreme essence of Buddhist teaching. Vajrasattva, “the Diamond Being”, that is, “The One whose essence is the diamond”, is one of them.

With its gesture signifying the absence of fear (abbaya mudra), this hand of a monumental Buddha, modelled in raw clay, was entirely gilded in keeping with the Buddhist tradition wherein the Buddha should glow with a fine golden light.

It's important to remember the paradoxical nature of the appearance of the tutelary god Chakrasamvara in Tibetan Buddhism. Despite its singularly frightening appearance, it represents the subtlest and purest level of consciousness in meditation and visualization practices.

Hayagriva est à la fois un dieu tutélaire (ishtadevata) et un protecteur des enseignements (dharmapala) dans le bouddhisme tibétain. Il est une forme courroucée d’Avalokiteshvara, le bodhisattva compatissant.

This graceful, lightly smiling divinity originates from the Buddhist monastery of Fondukistan in the Ghorband valley in the heart of Hindu Kush mountains. 

One of the most representative pieces of Nepalese art at musée Guimet illustrates the birth of an exceptional being: the Buddha, a landmark in the spiritual history of mankind.

In Nepal, several Buddhist ceremonies necessitated the presence of five priests, known as vajracarya, the "Thunderbolt-diamond" masters. They would traditionally wear a metal crown adorned with symbolic ornaments.

Although deprived of any royal insignia or ornaments, this head is of King Jayavarman VII (r.1181-1218). It is widely regarded as one of the masterpieces of musée Guimet.