Pancatathagatha Panel

Description

This low-relief Pala sculpture depicts one of the key aspects of Vajrayana Buddhism- the concept of the Five Transcendental Buddhas (pancatathagathas). As per the Trikaya system, these are supposed to represent the sambhogakaya form (beatific form), implying transcendental bliss. These pancatathagathas- namely Amitabha, Aksobhaya, Vairocana, Amoghasiddhi and Ratnasambhava- are viewed as spiritual counterparts of a human Buddha, all emanating from the primordial Adi Buddha. These pancatathagathas also represent different aspects- for instance, the five cosmic elements and qualities- which are represented by associated bodhisattvas and female deities as well. In Tantric practice, these are associated together via rituals, colour-symbolism, unique iconography and so forth- thus linking all these aspects together in spiritual and aesthetic terms. As a group, the pancatathagatha (as seen here) depict the different aspects of the Adi Buddha, which they form together.