- Title
- The Buddhist Protective Deity Achala
- Date Made
- 10th century
- Medium
- Brass with paint
- Dimensions
- 3 7/8 x 2 1/4 x 1 in. (9.84 x 5.72 x 2.54 cm)
- Accession Number
- AC1995.39.1
- 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 originally held his now-missing his sword in his right hand and holds his left hand in a gesture of admonition (tarjani mudra). He has a ferocious expression, wears a necklace, and has a dhoti tied around his waist with a serpent belt. Draped over his left shoulder is a serpent worn as a Brahmanical sacred thread (yajnopavita). Achala stands on a hexagonal base in a militant posture (pratyalidha asana) with his right leg extended and his left leg bent.
See also M.71.98.1, M.84.171.1, and AC1994.13.1.
