In Nepal, several Buddhist ceremonies necessitated the presence of five priests, known as vajracarya, the "Thunderbolt-diamond" masters. They would traditionally wear a metal crown adorned with symbolic ornaments.
This cone-shaped crown is a stylised reproduction of a three-tiered bun on which nine plaques are distributed. Five of them contain images of jina, or "victorious Buddhas" associated with a region of the Diamond Realm : Akshobhya in the East, Ratnasambhava in the South, Amitabha in the West, Amoghasiddhi in the North, Vairochana in the Center; they can be identified thanks to their gestures. The top of the crown is occupied by a vajra or "thunderbolt-diamond", a symbol of indestructibility, purity and spiritual accomplishment. The general iconographic scheme of the crown is reminiscent of the centered organisation of a Vajrasattva mandala, a supreme and primoridial form of Buddha in which the inherent quality of the five jina are manifested. During rituals, the priests identify to Vajrasattva.
As is traditional in the Newar art of the Kathmandu Valley, this crown was made in pure mercury gilded copper and enhanced with settings of semi precious stones and rock crystals. The Newar craftsmen were masters in the art of metalworking and elevated the aesthetics and techniques of repoussé, engraving and chiselling to a very high degree of excellence. The crown of musée Guimet is one of the oldest pieces of its kind to be kept in a western museum; it is also one of the most documented, as its lower part bears an inscription in Newar language indicating the name of the commissioner, the monastery in which he would perform ceremonies, and the identity of the monk-goldsmith who made the object, in 1145.
ClassificationRitual object
MediumGilded copper, settings of lapis lazuli, garnet, turquoise and rock crystals
