- Title
- The Buddhist Protective Deity Achala
- Date Made
- 13th century
- Medium
- Massive gypsum with paint
- Dimensions
- 2 1/2 x 1 7/8 x 1 1/8 in. (6.35 x 4.76 x 2.86 cm)
- Accession Number
- AC1994.13.1
- Collecting Area
- South and Southeast Asian Art
- Curatorial Notes
Achala (Immovable One), also known as Chandamaharoshana (Fierce and Great Wrathful One), is an angry manifestation of the Jina Buddha Akshobhya and his female aspect Mamaki in Vajrayana Buddhism in Tibet and Nepal. He is also the Regent of the North-East Direction (dikpala) and one of the major exoteric forms of Chakrasamvara in Nepal. Achala is believed to destroy all evil forces and obstructions (mara) with his anger (krodha). He typically holds in his right hand the flaming sword of wisdom, used to cut all obstacles and to purify all offerings.
Here, Achala wears a thunderbolt (vajra) in his crown. Besides his sword in his right hand held behind his head, he also holds a now-damaged wishing gem (chintamani) in his left hand. He has a ferocious visage and a flaming aureola (prabhavali). He stands in a variant of the militant posture (alidha asana) with his right leg bent forward and supported by his left knee.
See also M.71.98.1, M.84.171.1, and AC1995.39.1. See Himalayan Art Resources, no. 85773, https://www.himalayanart.org/items/85773
