Artwork Details

Title
Mahasiddha Avadhutipa
Dimensions
6 1/8 × 4 5/8 × 4 5/8 in.
Medium
Gilt copper alloy with turquoise inlay
Origin
Tibet
Classification(s)
sculpture
Date
17th - 18th century
Credit Line
Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art
Object number
C2005.8.2
Currently On View
at Frank Museum of Art, traveling exhibition Gateway to Himalayan Art, until December 12, 2024
HAR Number
65408
Published references
  • Rob Linrothe, Holy Madness: Portraits of Tantric Siddhas (Rubin Museum of Art; Serindia Publications, 2006), 342, 343, 350, cat. no. 71.

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Transmission

Concepts

The passing down of authentic Buddhist teachings from a teacher to a disciple or student, often in the form of a text in a ritualistic context.

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Lineage

Concepts

The transmission of teachings from one generation to the next, from teacher to student, traced all the way back to the Buddha without interruption. A complete lineage is essential in Tantric Buddhist practices as it makes the blessings of the teaching more powerful.

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Tantrism

Concepts

A religious movement that originated in India around the fifth to seventh century with sacred writings and esoteric teachings and practices transmitted from teacher to student through initiation. These remain an important part of Hinduism and Buddhism today. 

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Legendary and Historical Humans

Figure Type

Himalayan art includes portraits of legendary and historical humans, including accomplished religious teachers (lamas), the Buddha’s original disciples (arhats), and spiritually accomplished tantric masters (mahasiddhas).

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Tibetan Regions

Region

Today, Tibetans primarily inhabit the Tibetan Plateau, situated between the Himalayan mountain range and the Indian subcontinent to the west, Chinese cultural regions to the east, and Mongolian cultural regions to the northeast. During the 7th to 9th century, Tibetan rulers expanded their empire across Central Asia, and established Buddhism as the state religion.

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