Armlet for an Image with Crossed Vajras

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

At the center, crossed vajras indicate the cardinal directions and the universe’s axis—a place of ultimate stability where the Buddha reached enlightenment—which is marked here with a diamond. The gems, semiprecious stones, and coral convey ideas of purity and together form a mosaic that evokes the crystalline nature of the heavens. On either side of the armlet are reddish-coral kirtimukha faces that symbolize the relentless passage of time.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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.

Metropolitan Museum of Art