Untitled

Unknown

early 14th century · Copper alloy · Asian Art

A wide-eyed mahasiddha plays symbols and sings ecstatically. Such yogis belong to an Indian tradition of eccentric practitioners of Tantrism, much revered in Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism. Mahasiddhas were instrumental in introducing the meditation system perfected by the Dzogchen masters of the Nyingma order, founded by Padmasambhava in the eighth century.

Artist

Unknown

Date

early 14th century

Medium

Copper alloy

Culture

Tibet

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Purchase, Florence and Herbert Irving Gift and Rogers Fund, 2003