The Buddha Vairochana

This sculpture depicts the Buddha Vairochana. Iconographically the image is very much identical with the Buddha Sakyamuni. However, the identification of the present object is based on the intentions, whether related to Mahayana interests or not, i.e., whether the image is set up by Mahayanists or Theravadins. It is well known that the Mahayana tradition of Buddhism was very much popular in Tibet, Nepal, Kashmir, China and Central Asia etc. So on the basis of this the present image is identified as the Buddha Vairochana. Moreover, a late Mahayana-sutra mentions Sakyamuni Buddha in preaching form as Vairochana Buddha.

The Buddha is shown seated in Vajrasana on a lotus seat. Both his hands make the gesture of Dharmachakra-pravartana. He is wearing a sanghati, covering both the shoulders. The border of the drapery has an intricate chased floral design. His hair, painted in blue color, is arranged in small tight curls with a prominent ushnisha and a "jewel" on the top. His beautiful face has upturned lips painted in red color, and an urna between the eyebrows. The earlobes are elongated. His neck has three folds (trivali), one of the Mahapurusalakshanas.

This description by Dr. Shailendra Kumar Verma, Ph.D. His doctorate thesis being on the "Emergence and Evolution of the Buddha Image (from its inception to 8th century A.D).

References:

A. Getty, The Gods of Northern Buddhism, Tokyo, 1962

A.K. Gordon, The Iconography of Tibetan Lamaism, New York, 1939

A. Waddell, Buddhism and Lamaism of Tibet, New Delhi, 1979

D.L. Snellgrove, The Images of the Buddha, New Delhi, 1978

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