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This figure represents a yogi wearing his yogic band over his left shoulder. Like a divinity he sits on a lotus in the heroic "virasana" posture. In his lap he holds a skull cup revealing his role as a tantric teacher. This posture and iconography is common to Pala sculpture of the 11th and 12th centuries. It is likely that this figure represents a mahasiddha, a tantric teacher revered for having achieved "siddhi," or perfections. A group of eighty-four mahasiddhas was revered by both Hindus and Buddhists. Two of them, Matsyendranatha and Gorakhnatha became the foci of cults in Nepal. This figure was likely part of a 12th-century altar devoted to one of these mahasiddhas. It evidently was revered for quite some time as the rubbing associated with devotional practice has rendered its surface features quite muted.
Page data
- Page
- 2
- Source index
- 0
- Type
- photo
- Media ID
- 87e80219661d8d3e
- Size
- unknown
Document data
- ID
- 37055
- Core
- obj
- Type
- object
DTO data
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"description": "This figure represents a yogi wearing his yogic band over his left shoulder. Like a divinity he sits on a lotus in the heroic \"virasana\" posture. In his lap he holds a skull cup revealing his role as a tantric teacher. This posture and iconography is common to Pala sculpture of the 11th and 12th centuries. It is likely that this figure represents a mahasiddha, a tantric teacher revered for having achieved \"siddhi,\" or perfections. A group of eighty-four mahasiddhas was revered by both Hindus and Buddhists. Two of them, Matsyendranatha and Gorakhnatha became the foci of cults in Nepal. This figure was likely part of a 12th-century altar devoted to one of these mahasiddhas. It evidently was revered for quite some time as the rubbing associated with devotional practice has rendered its surface features quite muted.",
"provenance": "Gantan Shaka, Kathmandu, Nepal; John and Berthe Ford, Baltimore, Winter 1974, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 2007, by gift.",
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"dimensionsRaw": "H: 4 5/16 × W: 3 9/16 × D: 2 13/16 in. (11 × 9 × 7.1 cm)"
}
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Document identity
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Document source metadata
{
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"contentType": "object",
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"title": "Yogi",
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"provenance": "Gantan Shaka, Kathmandu, Nepal; John and Berthe Ford, Baltimore, Winter 1974, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 2007, by gift.",
"date": "12th century",
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Document source extras
{
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Page context
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