The Holy Helmet of Vajra Riding ▎The Hidden Light of Wisdom at Dusk
"Five-Faced Manjushri Bodhisattva Riding on a Golden Vajra Helmet"，16th century
Collection of the Norton Simon Museum
Replacing the original five Buddhas of Vajrayana with the figure of Manjushri Bodhisattva.
Collection of the Norton Simon Museum
Replacing the original five Buddhas of Vajrayana with the figure of Manjushri Bodhisattva.
"Five Buddha Body Vajra Riding Helmet", 15th Century
Collection of the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art, Kathmandu
Collection of the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art, Kathmandu
The holy helmet (གུ་རུའི་རྨོག་ཞྭ་) of the Vajrayana masters
Along with the Vajra scepter and Vajra bell is known as
Along with the Vajra scepter and Vajra bell is known as
the "Three Sacred Objects of the Vajrayana"（རྡོ་རྗེ་སློབ་དཔོན་གྱི་/གུ་རུའི་ནོར་བུ་རྣམ་གསུམ་）
It is also a masterpiece in Buddhist art in Nepal
The holy helmet presents the cosmic laws and world paradigms
From the tantric scriptures
By conducting various rituals and wearing the holy helmet
The masters gain divine authority and officially become "kings of practice"
They communicate with the gods in the ceremonies
Or become vessels for supreme spirits
(Usually referring to the Dainichi Nyorai/Vairocana Buddha)
People mistakenly identify the holy helmet as a war helmet or royal crown
(Even mistaking it for the crown of a Tibetan or North Asian monarch)
This is purely due to a lack of understanding of the context in which the object originated
And the symbolic system of tantric imagery in visual representations.
It is also a masterpiece in Buddhist art in Nepal
The holy helmet presents the cosmic laws and world paradigms
From the tantric scriptures
By conducting various rituals and wearing the holy helmet
The masters gain divine authority and officially become "kings of practice"
They communicate with the gods in the ceremonies
Or become vessels for supreme spirits
(Usually referring to the Dainichi Nyorai/Vairocana Buddha)
People mistakenly identify the holy helmet as a war helmet or royal crown
(Even mistaking it for the crown of a Tibetan or North Asian monarch)
This is purely due to a lack of understanding of the context in which the object originated
And the symbolic system of tantric imagery in visual representations.
"Five Buddhas on a Jeweled Altar Displaying the Adamantine Vehicle Helmets", mid-16th century
Collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
The altar is adorned with symbols made of jewels in place of the icons of the five Buddhas.
"Five Buddha Bodies, Vajra Chariot Helmet", 14th century
Collection of The New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, Kathmandu
"Vairocana Buddha/Mahāvairocana Buddha", 14th century
Private collection, location undisclosed
There is reason to believe that the sacred helmet originated from earlier esoteric Buddhist crown styles
The unity of the Five Buddhas is further demonstrated
"Five Buddha Mandala on Vajradhatu Helmet", mid-14th century
In the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Kathmandu
The perfection of the Five Buddha Mandala is utilized in the overall design of the sacred helmet.
The sacred helmet is generally oval in shape and adorned with three hemispheres.
At the top of the sacred helmet is a complete vajra.
Carved at the bottom and in the middle of the helmet are the Five Dhyani Buddhas of Tibetan Buddhism.
(The Vairochana Buddha is situated above the other four Buddhas.)
Offering goddesses, various types of mythical creatures, and decorative motifs are adorned around the helmet.
(Themes other than the Five Buddhas exist but are not common.)
It is believed that the sacred helmet is a three-dimensional form of the Five Buddha Mandala.
The helmet represents the universe.
Wearing the helmet bestows authority and lineage.
In some sacred helmets, the vajra is used instead of the Vairochana Buddha.
Originating from the Kathmandu region, this type of sacred helmet is considered a treasure by Buddhist monks in Tibet.
(Examples include the Black Hat Lama or some Nyingma lineage holders.)
These helmets can still be found in Tibetan monasteries and pilgrimage sites.
At the top of the sacred helmet is a complete vajra.
Carved at the bottom and in the middle of the helmet are the Five Dhyani Buddhas of Tibetan Buddhism.
(The Vairochana Buddha is situated above the other four Buddhas.)
Offering goddesses, various types of mythical creatures, and decorative motifs are adorned around the helmet.
(Themes other than the Five Buddhas exist but are not common.)
It is believed that the sacred helmet is a three-dimensional form of the Five Buddha Mandala.
The helmet represents the universe.
Wearing the helmet bestows authority and lineage.
In some sacred helmets, the vajra is used instead of the Vairochana Buddha.
Originating from the Kathmandu region, this type of sacred helmet is considered a treasure by Buddhist monks in Tibet.
(Examples include the Black Hat Lama or some Nyingma lineage holders.)
These helmets can still be found in Tibetan monasteries and pilgrimage sites.
"Five Buddhas and Attendant Deities Riding Vajra in the Mandala" from the 15th century
In the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Kathmandu
"Golden Vajradhatu Helmet of the Five Buddhas"
Mid-12th century (approximately 1145)
In the collection of Musée Guimet, Paris, France
Currently the earliest known Vajradhatu helmet (subject to further examination)
Mid-12th century (approximately 1145)
In the collection of Musée Guimet, Paris, France
Currently the earliest known Vajradhatu helmet (subject to further examination)
"The Tibetan Helmet" from the 16th to 17th century
Hidden in the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford
By comparing the Tibetan helmet with the traditional helmets of Tibet
We can understand the fundamental differences and unique social functions of the two.
Hidden in the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford
By comparing the Tibetan helmet with the traditional helmets of Tibet
We can understand the fundamental differences and unique social functions of the two.
"Five Buddha Bodies Vajra Conqueror Helmet", 14th century
Private collection, Kathmandu
Private collection, Kathmandu
Based solely on the existing artifacts, the tradition of the sacred helmet originated in the 12th century. However, in the oral history of the local area, the tradition can be traced back to the 8th to 10th centuries.
The Master Vajracharya and his family, who possessed the sacred helmet, were considered the supreme group in the social system of the region of Nepal. Among them, the Shakya clan held the highest position.
After a series of rituals, the young men of the family officially became disciples of the Vajrayana teachings and inherited their status. When their heads were aligned with the central axis of the sacred helmet (based on the vajra), the Vajrayana masters received empowerment from Vairochana Buddha.
From that point on, they undertook the responsibility of transmitting the teachings and upholding cosmic order. The sacred helmet was passed down through generations, and various blessing ceremonies never ceased.
They would guide the Buddhist community towards the path of Vajrayana enlightenment.
The Master Vajracharya and his family, who possessed the sacred helmet, were considered the supreme group in the social system of the region of Nepal. Among them, the Shakya clan held the highest position.
After a series of rituals, the young men of the family officially became disciples of the Vajrayana teachings and inherited their status. When their heads were aligned with the central axis of the sacred helmet (based on the vajra), the Vajrayana masters received empowerment from Vairochana Buddha.
From that point on, they undertook the responsibility of transmitting the teachings and upholding cosmic order. The sacred helmet was passed down through generations, and various blessing ceremonies never ceased.
They would guide the Buddhist community towards the path of Vajrayana enlightenment.
"Five Buddha Bodies Vajradhara Master Holy Helmet", late 15th century
Private collection, Kathmandu
Private collection, Kathmandu
"Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva's Altar City", mid-16th century
In the collection of the Rubin Museum, Kathmandu
A monk dressed in gold with a Saint Helm is conducting a ritual.
"Vajra Chariot Master conducting a Ceremony"
2011, photographed by Kerry Lucinda Brown
2011, photographed by Kerry Lucinda Brown
The sacred helmet bears witness to the Buddhist culture and historical processes of the Nepal region. The Vajrayana masters who wear the sacred helmet still live here, surrounded by its intricate decorations and profound symbolism. Behind the beauty of the helmet lies the wisdom teachings and esoteric philosophies passed down for centuries. The Nepalese artisans' unique artistic taste and exceptional craftsmanship (traditional embossing techniques, metal forging skills, jewelry decoration methods) have been preserved for eternity thanks to the existence of the sacred helmet and those who wear it.
"Five Buddha Bodies Vajradhara Master's Holy Helmet", late 16th century
In the collection of the Nicholas Roerich Museum, Kathmandu
In the collection of the Nicholas Roerich Museum, Kathmandu