Symbols and Meanings

Learn about the art and objects from Himalayan cultural regions and the visual language (iconography) used to convey the meanings of figures and symbols representing religious ideas and concepts.

Bodhisattvas

Bodhisattvas are beings who aspire to become awakened like the Buddha and are dedicated to helping others achieve this too.

They are portrayed adorned with crowns, jeweled ornaments, and garments of ancient Indian royalty. The greatest of the bodhisattvas are near enlightenment and are regarded as deities with abilities practically equal to those of buddhas. They can be identified by distinctive attributes that symbolize their particular qualities, such as the book and sword—representations of wisdom.

Objects in the Exhibition

Buddha
The Buddha, meaning awakened person, referred first to Shakyamuni, whose teachings became the foundation of Buddhism.
Tantric Deities
Tantric deities are the focus of esoteric religious practices (tantras) that aim to swiftly and radically transform a practitioner’s conventional understanding of reality.