China / Tibet: Thangka of Akshobhyavajra, central deity of the Guhyasamāja Tantra, Lhasa, 15th-16th century

In the practice of the Guhyasamāja Tantra, the central deity of the Guhyasamāja is blue-black Akshobhyavajra, a form of Akshobhya, one of the five transcendent lords (pañcatathāgata).

Akshobhyavajra holds a vajra and bell (ghanta) in his first two hands, and other hands hold the symbols of the four other transcendent lords: wheel of Vairocana and lotus of Amitabha in his right hands, and gem of Ratnasambhava and sword of Amoghasiddhi in his left hands.

The maṇḍala consists of thirty-two deities in all.

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Supplier: CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Credit:

Pictures From History

Theme:

TIBETAN BUDDHISM