Tabo Monastery Golden Hall: Vairocana Buddha

INDIA, Himachal Pradesh

This mural is painted on the north wall of the Golden Hall in Tabo Monastery. Vairocana Buddha sits in full lotus position on a lotus throne, joining his hands in front of his abdomen to form the dhyana (meditation) mudra. The white-bodied Buddha has delicate features and four heads, each topped with a pointed crown. Stoles flutter around the arms, and the body is adorned with ornaments. The blue nimbus and mandorla are outlined with orange flame patterns. The Buddha is seated within a red niche. At the top, two apsaras fly in front of clouds. Beside them, Aksobhya and Amitabha Buddhas are depicted on the right, while Ratnasambhava and Amoghasiddhi Buddhas sit on the left. On the sides of the niche, elephants support tall columns topped with flaming jewels. Snow lions and two deities supporting the niche are depicted beside the small columns on the base of Vairocana’s lotus throne. Colorful Bodhisattvas in varied poses are depicted around the outside of the image. Vairocana’s pointed crown, arched eyebrows, broad shoulders, and slender waist are common features of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas painted in the monastery.