Art Sunday 03/23/08: Tantric Art

Yab-yum (Tibetan literally, “father-mother”) is a common symbol in the Buddhist art of India, Bhutan, Nepal, and Tibet representing the male deity in sexual union with his female consort. Often the male deity is sitting in lotus position while his consort is sitting in his lap. Despite appearances, the yab-yum is not related in any way to sexual practices.

The traditional Tibetan Buddhist Yab-yum image of two deities in an overtly sexual posture, is a meditational tool, one of many seemingly contradictory images of sex used to achieve the insight that leads to spiritual liberation.

The symbolism of union and sexual polarity is a central teaching Tantric Buddhism, especially in Tibet. The union is realised by the practitioner as a mystical experience within one’s own body. The word Tantra itself is derived from the verbal root tan, meaning to “weave”. Many things are interwoven on the Tantric path, including the lives of men and women. The Buddha couples of Tantric iconography celebrate this deep harmony of the sexes. The purpose of this dynamic was the creation of partnerships devoted to the realization of the ultimate truth. For instance, the man cultivates pure vision by seeing the woman as a deity, her sexual organ as the throne of enlightenment, and her sexual fluid as divine nectar.

Yab-yum is generally understood to represent the primordial (or mystical) union of wisdom and compassion. The masculine form is passive, representing the compassion and skillful means (upaya) that have to be developed in order to reach enlightenment. The feminine form is active and represents wisdom (prajna), which is also necessary to enlightenment. United, the figures symbolize the union necessary to overcome the veils of Maya, the false duality of object and subject.

tantric1yabyum_zf64.jpg picture by lstlight

The sacred Tantric practice leads to rapid development of mind by using the experience of bliss, non-duality, and ecstasy while in communion with one’s consort.

tantraSitasamvara9.jpg picture by lstlight

In Hinduism the yab-yum has a slightly different meaning. There, the embraced posture represents the divine strength of creation. The Hindu concept is the one of a passive masculine deity embracing his spouse called shakti, which represents his activity or power.

12 CommentsChronological Reverse Threaded

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starfishred wrote on Mar 22, ’08

Very very interesting thanks for the tour.

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jayaramanms wrote on Mar 22, ’08

Tantric ideas are often used to help individuals and couples transform love making into a more satisfying experience, on the physical, emotional, and spiritual realm. “Tantra” has become a synonym for “spiritual sex” or “sacred sexuality”, a belief that sex in itself ought to be recognized as a sacred act which is capable of elevating its participants to a more sublime spiritual plane.Great presentation and depiction of Tantra Art with your narrative blog and sculptures. Thank you for sharing.Please see my entry on Painting of Italian painter Guercino at – http://jayaramanms.multiply.com/journal/item/94/ART_SUNDAY_-_GUERCINO. and his works in album at – http://jayaramanms.multiply.com/photos/album/6/PAININGS_OF_GUERCINO. and comment.

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sweetpotatoqueen wrote on Mar 22, ’08

The ancients had such wisdom about the spiritual elements of human sexuality. The ability to experience something mystical by use of connecting the mind and body is certainly a gift given to humans.
After reading this I can’t help but be saddened by the explotation of sex is our current society.
This was so interesting ..thank you!

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lauritasita wrote on Mar 22, ’08

When I first saw these statues, I couldn’t help but present them because they were so interesting. I love the way sex is presented in these eastern cultures. I actually do not know the artists of these statues, or when they were made, but they are so beautiful. Enjoy.