Chengde Pule Temple Dawning Light Hall: Cakrasamvara

CHINA, Hebei, Chengde; Qing dynasty

Located in the center of the hall in Pule Temple, Cakrasamvara is one of the deities belonging to the Anuttarayoga classification of Vajrayana Buddhism. He has four faces, twelve arms, and wears a five-skull crown. Each face shows a wrathful expression, with three staring eyes and gnashing teeth. The principal arms embrace his consort, Vajravarahi, while the remaining hands either hold ritual objects or form mudras. The wrists, elbows, knees and ankles are adorned with bangles as the figure stands barefoot upon an elongated lotus pedestal. Vajravarahi faces her male consort, her left foot balanced on his right, with her opposite thigh mounted across his left hip in the dancing yab-yum posture. She also wears a five-skull crown and has long hair hanging to her waist. Their embrace is a metaphor for the union of supreme bliss and emptiness, which are of the same essence.