Vairochana, the Supreme Transcendent Buddha

Vairochana, the Supreme Transcendent Buddha

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Vairochana is the original of the five Transcendent Buddhas of Vajrayana Buddhism, identified by his hands held in bodhyagri mudra, an esoteric gesture denoting the zenith of the universe. Considered the primoridal Buddha, he is understood to reside at the center of Buddhist cosmology.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Vairochana, the Supreme Transcendent BuddhaVairochana, the Supreme Transcendent BuddhaVairochana, the Supreme Transcendent BuddhaVairochana, the Supreme Transcendent BuddhaVairochana, the Supreme Transcendent Buddha

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.