Tabo Monastery Central Hall: Four Vairocana Buddhas

INDIA, Himachal Pradesh

The hall in which this figure is located has been arranged as a Diamond Realm Mandala, of which the sculpture is the central feature. Uniquely, four individual figures facing the cardinal directions sit back to back to form a single Vairocana Buddha, in place of the usual four-headed form. White in color except for their gilded faces, they are crowned and their upper bodies are unadorned except for jewelry, while their lower bodies are covered in colorful lower garments. Their hands are in mudras as they sit in full lotus positions upon a circular double lotus throne.
A carved and painted frame divides the statues from each other and their backs are attached to a round pole that extends to the ceiling. Four stupas, one for each Buddha, are attached to the pole directly above them, supported by a large lotus flower underneath. There are four kirtimukhas, with gaping mouths, above the stupas. A stole and a string of beads hang from the mouths of each creature.