Five Buddha Crown (Rig Nga)

Mongolia 

Early 20th century

Paper, paint, lacquer, fabric

The Five Buddha Crown is worn during initiation empowerment, a ritual ceremony in which a lama grants a student access to a particular tantric deity practice. Each segment of the crown represents a type of Buddha or one of the five aspects of enlightenment. The images of Buddha each depict a “mudra,” a symbolic gesture or sign common to both Buddhism and Hinduism. Mudras are sacred gestures, usually performed with the fingers and hands, which are used in meditation to control the flow of energy and induce a certain state of mind.