Vajravarahi Nepal, circa 1800 Painted wood 21 in. (53.3 cm.) high Provenance: The collection of Philip Goldman, London. Hayward Gallery, London. Exhibited: Tantra, Hayward Gallery, London, Art Council of Great Britain, 30 September–7 November 1971. Published: P. Rawson, Tantra: Hayward Gallery, London, 1971, p. 31, no. 115. Himalayan Art Resources (himalayanart.org), item no. 7547.

The present sculpture depicts Vajravarahi, a prominent female deity in tantric Buddhism and consort of Chakrasamvara. Although she is usually shown accompanying or embracing him as his other half, Vajravarahi alone is often considered to be a godly representation of the combined wisdom held by all buddhas. One of Vajravarahi's eminent identifying features is the sow head, or varahi, emerging from behind her proper right ear. Tibetan Buddhists have symbolically used the sow to represent ignorance within their practices and the attached head implies the defeat of the beast, reinforcing Vajravarahi's overarching wisdom and general triumph over ignorance. The sculpture is a testament to the artistry and spiritual symbolism of Himalayan iconography, representing both ferocity and wisdom. The use of a corpse at the deity's feet and the array of heads as accessories is not mere representation of violence but a profound illustration of the deity's power over the most primal fears of humanity—death and ignorance. The intricate craftsmanship of the figure's pose, facial expression, and adornments contribute to its importance as an embodiment of Buddhist teachings and as a significant artifact of cultural heritage. Another one of Vajravarahi's identifying features is her distinct pose, which appears as though she is frozen in movement, with her proper right leg bent towards her proper left thigh–a position that is referred to as ardhaparyanka. Beneath her lies a corpse, a Buddhist representation of the ultimate evil that has been conquered by Vajravarahi's immense power. In addition to her decorated body and billowing drapery, Vajravarahi proudly wears an intricate headpiece with the heads of five humans. She also wears a large garland of severed heads that hangs around her dancing figure. In her raised proper right hand, she holds a knife that is thought to be used to cut out irrelevant worldly concepts and leave only an acute awareness or jnana. Her proper left-hand holds a small cup, usually a skull, that is said to be filled with blood or the scrambled ideas of humans. The present sculpture's intense and violent imagery further emphasizes Vajravarahi's vigor and power as she symbolically defeats ignorance, the fear of death, and other earthly or mundane views.

|