Altar with Statues of Shakyamuni Buddha, Padmasambhava, and Amitayus

28, 29, 30. White Tara, Amitayus, Six-Syllable Lord of the World (Shadakshari Lokeshvara)

Amitayus (Center), China, Qing dynasty, 18th century; gilt bronze; H. 7 1/8 in.; The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, Vassar College, Gift of Daniele Selby ’13, 2014.31.4.

White Tara (Left), Sino-Tibetan, 19th century; bronze with cold gold and inlays; H. 7 in.; The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, Vassar College, Gift of Daniele Selby ’13, 2014.31.1.

Six-Syllable Lord of the World (Shadakshari Lokeshvara) (Right), Tibet, 18th century; gilt bronze; H. 5 3/4 in.; The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center, Vassar College, Gift of Daniele Selby ’13, 2014.31.3.

Altar with Statues of Shakyamuni Buddha, Padmasambhava, and Amitayus

Namdroling Monastery, Bylakuppe, India, 2012, photo: H.S. Sahyadri, Wikimedia Commons.

Tibetan Buddhist altars are usually elaborate and ornate, as we see in this example from Namdroling Monastery in India. The historical Buddha Shakyamuni occupies the center, while the Buddha of Infinite Life—Amitayus—sits to the right. Like the depiction of Amitayus shown in the ensemble on the left, this celestial Buddha wears elaborate ornaments and holds his identifying attribute, a longevity vase filled with amrita. The splendor of this setting is meant to encourage visitors to imagine themselves in the Pure Land where these impressive buddhas dwell.