Superb Mongolian Bronze Repousse Three Faced Head of Vajrakumara Heruka 18th Century

Superb Mongolian Bronze Repousse Three Faced Head of Vajrakumara Heruka 18th Century

This superb Mongolian repousse head is in the form of a three-faced Vajrakumara Heruka. Dating from the 18th Century.  All three faces are of a wrathful nature with fierce eyes painted white around the edges and barred fang-like teeth. The finely detailed hairs flow over the heads of all three faces and are highlighted with orange paint.  The head was obviously off a larger sculpture as you can see how the neck fit into a bigger sculpture.

Vajrakumara also is known as Vajrakilaya Heruka,  is the activity aspect from the set of Eight Herukas of the Mahayoga Tantras of the Nyingma Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and a principal meditational deity for both the Nyingmapa and Sakyapa, later taken up by the Jonang and many of the various Kagyu Traditions.

In the Nyingma (Old) Tradition Heruka generally refers to any male-meditational deity, wrathful in appearance, typically with three faces, six arms, four legs, wings and a consort. There are eight famous Nyingma Heruka deities. Some deities with a semi-peaceful – semi-wrathful appearance, arising from specific Revealed Treasure Traditions, may also be referred to as Heruka.

Provenance: The Todd Barlin Collection of Buddhist Art

Published and Exhibited: “The Art of Compassion ”  2018 by David Templeman  Published page 56

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