Chakrasamvara and Vajravarahi
Central Tibet, 18th century
Ground pigment with animal glue binder on cotton
Rose Art Museum, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts.
Gift of N. L. Horch to the Riverside Museum Collection, 1971.196

This tangka of Chakrasamvara and Vajravarahi shows the Buddha in his manifestation as the guiding deity Samvara entwined with his consort. With four faces and twelve arms, he holds attributes that aid Buddhist practice -- the vajra scepter, wisdom bell, damaru drum -- and destroy obstacles to enlightenment -- axe, trident, thunderbolt, skull cup, lasso, magic staff, severed head of god Brahma. Samvara stretches out a flayed elephant skin behind him, symbolizing the end of delusions and ignorance. His garland of fifty-two severed heads is emblematic of the dozens of emotional barriers to enlightenment.