Footnotes

A POLYCHROME TERRACOTTA AND WOOD FIGURE OF VAJRABHAIRAVA (EKAVIRA)
TIBET, 18TH/19TH CENTURY

西藏 十八/十九世紀 彩陶木雕怖畏金剛像

When Yama, Lord of Death, was ravaging Tibet, the people invoked Manjushri for help. He assumed the form of Yamantaka (Conqueror of Death - also known as Vajrabhairava) and subdued Yama, making the latter a Regent of Hell. As the deputy of Manjushri, Vajrabhairava is known as the "discerning protector". In the Sakya tradition he is counted among the four main tantric deities along with Hevajra, Guhyasamaja and Chakrasamvara.

Depictions of this solitary aspect of Vajrabhairava Ekavira, without a consort, are less common. An earlier example in polychrome wood in the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (93.13A.00) dated to the 15th century, demonstrates the active tradition of creating deities in different media.

Also compare to a bronze figure in the Hermitage Museum (HAR 31408) and another bronze with similar polychrome decoration in the Royal Ontario Museum (HAR 77546). Also compare with a related thangka of similar representation of Ekavira (HAR 59016).

A close comparison can be found in a painted clay (terracotta) figure of Ekajata Rakshasi in the British Museum (Ramos Tantra, 2020, p. 160, fig. 116), both figures are of superior modeling with similar ornamentation and prominent flaming brows.

Published:
Ramon Prats, et.al., Monasterios y lamas del Tibet, Madrid, Fundación "La Caixa", 2000, p. 94-5, no. 3.
Gennady Leonov, Images of Dharma: One Thousand Years of Tibetan Art, Spink & Sons, Ltd., 1991, no. 18.

Exhibited:
Monasterios y lamas del Tibet, Fundación "La Caixa", Madrid, November 2000-January 2001.

Provenance:
Spink & Son Ltd., London,1991