Throughout the artworks of the greater Himalayan region and Inner Asia in our collection, you'll find similar iconography, or forms, found in religious images, especially in the attributes of deities: body color, number of arms and legs, hand gestures, poses, implements, and retinue. Look closely at these three artworks: a stunning late 18th-century Tibetan thangka painting of White Chakrasamvara, from Situ’s set of Twenty-seven Tutelary Deities; a 14th-century Nepalese sculpture of Buddha Vajradhara; and a 17th-century Tibetan thangka painting of Akshobhyavajra Guhyasamaja. In each one, we can observe the gesture of tantric unity, which is shown when the subject is embracing a consort and is symbolic of joining two aspects of the concept of enlightenment: wisdom and method. Wisdom is an enlightened quality attributed to women, while method is considered a male aspect of enlightenment. _____ 1. White Chakrasamvara, From Situ’s set of Twenty-seven Tutelary Deities; late 18th century;...