Lotus mandalas count among the most fascinating objects of Esoteric Buddhist art. These three-dimensional representations of deity palaces typically feature a deity at the center of the flower that stands atop a tall stem, with that deity’s retinue placed on hinged petals around him or her. The sculpture’s mechanical hinges allow for those petals to close around the central deity so that the sculpture resembles a flower bud. Housing the deities in a lotus, a symbol of purity, serves as an ideal metaphor for the perfection of their palatial habitat as envisioned in meditative practice.The lotus mandala form was probably invented in northeastern India, from where most surviving examples derive. This mandala exhibits features typical for that region, including the shape of the lotus petals, the scrollwork at the sides of the stem, and the copper alloy used. At the center of its blossom is the divine couple Hevajra and Nairatmya. They are surrounded by eight yoginis dancing on the petals. On the outside of the petals are eight cemetery grounds, each presided over by a highly accomplished Tantric Buddhist adept, or mahasiddha, as is common for both two- and three-dimensional mandalas.

Artwork Details

Title
Lotus Mandala of Hevajra
Dimensions
12 3/8 × 7 5/8 × 6 5/8 in.
Medium
Copper alloy
Origin
Northeastern India
Classification(s)
sculpture
Date
12th century
Credit Line
Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art
Object number
C2003.10.2
HAR Number
65207
Published references
*Sotheby's New York, March 28, 2003, lot 39.*Brauen, Martin. Mandala: Sacred Circle in Tibetan Buddhism. New York: Rubin Museum of Art; Stuttgart: Arnoldsche Art Publishers, 2009. Plate 31; pp. 24, 138-139. *Linrothe, Rob. Holy Madness: Portraits of Tantric Siddhas. New York: Rubin Museum of Art; Chicago: Serindia Publications, 2006. Catalog No.5; Pp. 190-193, 276, 285, 302, 356* Van Alphen, J. Collection Highlights: Rubin Museum of Art. New York: Rubin Museum of Art, 2014. Pp. 224-225* Brauen, Martin. Mandala: The Perfect Circle." Arts of Asia 40, no. 2 (2010): Fig. 1, pp. 69.

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Meditation

Concepts

A contemplative practice in which a person uses concentration and visualization to achieve aims such as transforming the mind and generating feelings of compassion. Techniques include focusing on breathing or visualizing oneself as a deity.

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Ritual

Concepts

Prescribed practices that carry symbolic meaning and value within a specific tradition and are intended to attain a desired outcome. Rituals are usually done as part of a ceremony or regular routine.

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Mandala

Figure Type

A geometrically shaped tool used for meditation and visualization in Buddhist practice. It is a representation of the palace of a deity and the Buddhist conception of the cosmos.

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Northeastern India

Region

As the cradle of Buddhism, northeastern India was and remains today a region abundant in sacred Buddhist sites. Through the late 13th century, India was the epicenter for the production of Buddhist material and visual culture, with teachers, monks, traders, and pilgrims bringing objects back home to Tibet, western Himalayan regions, Nepal, and beyond.

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