Acala with Consort Vishvavajri

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Acala (literally, “immovable”) is a wrathful manifestation of Manjushri, the bodhisattva of supreme wisdom, and, in Nepalese Buddhism, a manifestation of Chakrasamvara. He is popularly associated with magic, healing, and protection from disease. This painting is a visualization of the Chandamaharoshana Tantra, the meditational text devoted to Acala. With its intense colors, dynamic postures, and imposing scale, it ranks among the most powerful examples of sixteenth-century Nepalese painting. Crowned, jeweled, and wielding his sword, Acala cuts through the veil of ignorance. In his left hand he holds a vajra-tipped noose to catch the ignorant, while also gesturing in admonition. He is locked in sexual embrace with his consort, Vishvavajri. The pair visually expresses the bliss of enlightenment that can be achieved by the combination of wisdom and compassion.

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